AGRA: In an attempt to boost Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's green and environment-friendly fast transport system ambition, railways is conducting
trial run for long distance premium train hauled by
end to end
electric locomotive engines.
In the trial runs, railway officials confirmed that train touched 160kmph equalled
Gatimaan Express's top speed, which covers a distance of 400 km in less than five hours.
According to railway officials, the 18 LHB coach train does not have carbon emitting diesel generator car (coach) which conventionally provides power air conditioning and electric systems of trains like Rajdhani, Duronto, AC superfast, Garibrath. Instead the second locomotive engine of the train powers the speed and also fulfills the electricity requirement for train. The train is currently tested between Mumbai and New Delhi.
The trial run is being conducted by the testing department of research design and standards
organisation (RDSO).
Speaking to TOI, Hamid Akhtar, executive director of the testing department of RDSO said, “The primary objective of the trial is to run 18 coach express train of long distance at maximum possible speed along with zero-carbon-footprint. We have conducted
trials in four section between Mumbai and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Once the test reports confirm the objective's accomplishment, the end-to-end locomotive engine hauled train would be put into commercial operation.”
At present, country’s fastest semi high-speed Gatimaan with 12 coach is hauled by a single electric engine. Its electric system is powered by diesel generator car, which is extremely noisy and emits tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
Shashikant Tripathi, Agra division operational manager said, “The premium segment 18 coach express train does not have diesel generator car, its entire electricity requirement is fulfilled by two locomotive engines, who also boost the speed to train to touch 160 kmph.”
On Thursday, the two electric locomotives hauled express train was tested between Hazrat Nizamuddin to Kota via Mathura junction and it touched 160kmph.
It’s important to note, that testing department of RDSO will also be conducting
trial of indigenously developed ‘Train 18’, a self-propelled
train set consisting of 16 coaches, between Palwal and Mathura in mid-October