Visakhapatnam: Three trains that originate from the Visakhapatnam railway station (VRS) is likely to be included in the list of trains that will move on to ‘head on generation’ (HoG) technology. The AP Express (Visakhapatnam to New Delhi), Duranto (Visakhapatnam to Secunderabad) and Garibrath (Visakhapatnam to Secunderabad) are expected to get this technology.
According to experts, the use of HoG technology is eco-friendly as there is no smoke or noise pollution and it also helps reducing carbon emissions by 700 mt per year per train.
Currently, the New Delhi to Mumbai Rajdhani Express has this technology.
Railway officials at the electric loco shed at the VRS are currently preparing a report of the action plan, reliable sources told TOI.
The move, if taken, is expected to create 500 additional berths for passengers every day.
Speaking to TOI, a VRS official said that HoG helps generating electricity from the locos (rail engines) rather than power generator cars for lighting and air-conditioning of LHB (Link Hofmann Busch) coaching trains.
Currently, there are around one or two power cars at the end of every train in every LHB rake where the electricity supplied to coaches is produced through a diesel generator.
Under the HoG system, electricity will be supplied from overhead power lines and distributed throughout the train.
“As per our internal guidelines, the new HoG will be used on LHB coaching trains from October. This will not only enable trains to shed themselves of the power cars, accommodate more coaches, but will also save electricity,” the senior railway official said.
According to railway officials, a power car needs nearly 65 to 70 litres of diesel per hour in air-conditioned coaches. The railway spends nearly Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore annually on each power car.
“By removing the power car from the train, we can add a passenger coach in its place thus increasing the number of berths without increasing the length of the train,” the railway official explained.
According to experts, the use of HoG technology is eco-friendly as there is no smoke or noise pollution and it also helps reducing carbon emissions by 700 mt per year per train. Currently, the New Delhi to Mumbai Rajdhani Express has this technology.