Railway division gets Rs 14-crore hi-tech engine
Equipped with computerised controls including automatic braking, fault diagnostics and event recorders, the new engine can pull almost double the number of coaches as compared to the conventionally used engine
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, July 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20090711200907110320245002604d3a8)
The Ahmedabad Railway Division has procured a new electromotive diesel (EMD) loc
omotive with higher horsepower capacity for its goods train. It will be operational by the end of this month, say railway sources.
One EMD locomotive will cost Rs 14 crore, they say. 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. “The new engine can take almost double the load when fitted to a goods train. This is highly economical,” says a source.
Easy to maintain and highly reliable, the interiors are designed to suit the needs and comfort of the driver. These 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. It comes with a self-load box to keep a check on how much weight it can pull and sensors that allow the driver to find out which part of the engine has a problem.
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.
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.
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 railway will be procuring as many as 150 brand new EMDs by the end of this year. This means that once fitted with the new engines, the trains can now cut down on travel time sharply.
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.
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,” said railway sources. At present, these engines are being maintained at Hubli and Siliguri.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, July 11, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20090711200907110320245002604d3a8)
The Ahmedabad Railway Division has procured a new electromotive diesel (EMD) loc
omotive with higher horsepower capacity for its goods train. It will be operational by the end of this month, say railway sources.One EMD locomotive will cost Rs 14 crore, they say. 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. “The new engine can take almost double the load when fitted to a goods train. This is highly economical,” says a source.
Easy to maintain and highly reliable, the interiors are designed to suit the needs and comfort of the driver. These 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. It comes with a self-load box to keep a check on how much weight it can pull and sensors that allow the driver to find out which part of the engine has a problem.
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.
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.
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 railway will be procuring as many as 150 brand new EMDs by the end of this year. This means that once fitted with the new engines, the trains can now cut down on travel time sharply.
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.
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,” said railway sources. At present, these engines are being maintained at Hubli and Siliguri.
