Diesel engines to be exported from sabarmati yard
In-service diesel engines will be modified at Sabarmati loco shed before being shipped to Africa via Kandla port
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, November 25, 2008 (Ahmedabad Mirror)
With diesel locomotives turning obsolete following large-scale gauge conversion in the country, Indian Railways has decided to export these to developing countries, especially Africa. The Sabarmati loco shed will serve as an export hub of the nation for this.Railway board sources said out-of-use diesel engines from all over the country will be modified at Sabarmati railway shed before being shipped to Africa via Kandla port.Gauge conversion has till date phased out 75 per cent of all diesel engines in the country.
The Ahmedabad railway division currently has 50 diesel locomotives, down from 164 in 2005. And the figure is reducing by the day. Looking to the scenario, Rail India Technical and Economic Service Ltd (RIGHTS) decided to export in-service metre gauge diesel locomotives to African countries with the necessary modification, which include upgrading the interiors, the design and modifying the mechanical apparatus.“All surplus diesel locomotives across the country will be brought to Sabarmati Railway Diesel Shed (SRDS) of Western Railway in Ahmedabad.
From here, they will be sent to Kandla for shipment abroad,” said Rajkamal Rao, member of the mechanical division of the railway board.Indian diesel locomotives are very popular in developing countries. The first one was exported to Tanzania on August 15, 2007 from Sabarmati diesel shed.
Till date, more than 20 diesel locomotives have been exported from the shed,” said Vishal Kapoor, senior divisional mechanical engineer of Ahmedabad.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, November 25, 2008 (Ahmedabad Mirror)
With diesel locomotives turning obsolete following large-scale gauge conversion in the country, Indian Railways has decided to export these to developing countries, especially Africa. The Sabarmati loco shed will serve as an export hub of the nation for this.Railway board sources said out-of-use diesel engines from all over the country will be modified at Sabarmati railway shed before being shipped to Africa via Kandla port.Gauge conversion has till date phased out 75 per cent of all diesel engines in the country.
The Ahmedabad railway division currently has 50 diesel locomotives, down from 164 in 2005. And the figure is reducing by the day. Looking to the scenario, Rail India Technical and Economic Service Ltd (RIGHTS) decided to export in-service metre gauge diesel locomotives to African countries with the necessary modification, which include upgrading the interiors, the design and modifying the mechanical apparatus.“All surplus diesel locomotives across the country will be brought to Sabarmati Railway Diesel Shed (SRDS) of Western Railway in Ahmedabad.
From here, they will be sent to Kandla for shipment abroad,” said Rajkamal Rao, member of the mechanical division of the railway board.Indian diesel locomotives are very popular in developing countries. The first one was exported to Tanzania on August 15, 2007 from Sabarmati diesel shed.
Till date, more than 20 diesel locomotives have been exported from the shed,” said Vishal Kapoor, senior divisional mechanical engineer of Ahmedabad.
