Hi-speed, hi-tech engines for Ahmedabad trains
The Ahmedabad Railway Division is all set to procure as many as 150 brand new electromotive diesel locomotives (EMD) with higher horsepower capacity to run passenger and goods trains. This means that once fitted with the new engines, the trains can now cut down on travel time sharply. “Yes, we are procuring the new locos.
The maintenance facility for these is being constructed at diesel shed in Sabarmati and is likely to be completed by the first quarter of next year,” informs Vishal Kapoor, senior divisional mechanical engineer of Ahmedabad.According to sources in the Indian Railway, one EMD locomotive will cost Rs 14 crore. The Ahmedabad Railway Division is planning to procure 150 such locos as part of its upgradation plans.The new 160 kmph locomotives — WDP4 (passenger loco) and WDG4 (goods loco) — from General Motors Electro Motive Division with 4,000 HP (horsepower) will be introduced in addition to the conventional 3,300 HP ALCO (American Locomotive Company) locomotives by next year. At present, these engines are being maintained at Hubli and Siliguri. For the western India, Sabarmati is the maintenance hub.
Currently, 4,000 ALCO locomotives are being used in passenger trains. Of these 15 per cent trains like the 24-bogie Aravalli Express and Ashram Express require two ALCO locomotives to be coupled together as the trains move on uneven terrains and therefore need greater horsepower to run. The suspension of the locomotive is also designed is such a manner that it will lead to safer train-operation.The introduction of EMD locomotives shall help the Railways in running such heavy haul trains by only one locomotive.
Easy to maintain and highly reliable, the new engines come equipped with computerised controls including computerised braking, fault diagnostics and event recorders (similar to the black box in aircraft) to enable investigations into series of events before any kind of problem or accident on route.Also because of less maintenance requirements, the availability of the locomotive for hauling trains is more — 93 per cent as against 80 per cent of the conventional locomotive.The computerised Vigilance Control Device incorporated in the locomotive automatically applies brakes in case the system detects that the driver has been incapacitated.
It can also communicate directly with the central base using satellite controls.But the most striking aspect of the EMD is its fuel efficiency. “It saves 16 to 18 per cent more fuel compared to conventional locomotives,” informs a source. The Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) in Varanasi, a production unit owned by Indian Railways, manufactures these EMD locomotives.
(Courtesy: Ahmedabad Mirror)
The maintenance facility for these is being constructed at diesel shed in Sabarmati and is likely to be completed by the first quarter of next year,” informs Vishal Kapoor, senior divisional mechanical engineer of Ahmedabad.According to sources in the Indian Railway, one EMD locomotive will cost Rs 14 crore. The Ahmedabad Railway Division is planning to procure 150 such locos as part of its upgradation plans.The new 160 kmph locomotives — WDP4 (passenger loco) and WDG4 (goods loco) — from General Motors Electro Motive Division with 4,000 HP (horsepower) will be introduced in addition to the conventional 3,300 HP ALCO (American Locomotive Company) locomotives by next year. At present, these engines are being maintained at Hubli and Siliguri. For the western India, Sabarmati is the maintenance hub.
Currently, 4,000 ALCO locomotives are being used in passenger trains. Of these 15 per cent trains like the 24-bogie Aravalli Express and Ashram Express require two ALCO locomotives to be coupled together as the trains move on uneven terrains and therefore need greater horsepower to run. The suspension of the locomotive is also designed is such a manner that it will lead to safer train-operation.The introduction of EMD locomotives shall help the Railways in running such heavy haul trains by only one locomotive.
Easy to maintain and highly reliable, the new engines come equipped with computerised controls including computerised braking, fault diagnostics and event recorders (similar to the black box in aircraft) to enable investigations into series of events before any kind of problem or accident on route.Also because of less maintenance requirements, the availability of the locomotive for hauling trains is more — 93 per cent as against 80 per cent of the conventional locomotive.The computerised Vigilance Control Device incorporated in the locomotive automatically applies brakes in case the system detects that the driver has been incapacitated.
It can also communicate directly with the central base using satellite controls.But the most striking aspect of the EMD is its fuel efficiency. “It saves 16 to 18 per cent more fuel compared to conventional locomotives,” informs a source. The Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) in Varanasi, a production unit owned by Indian Railways, manufactures these EMD locomotives.
(Courtesy: Ahmedabad Mirror)
