Member Mechanical Railway Board Describes this Monitoring System as Important Measure for Safety in Train Operations
Member Mechanical Railway Board Describes this
Monitoring System as Important Measure for Safety in Train Operations
A Locomotive Capable of Running both on Electricity
as well as Diesel is Under Development
Member Mechanical holds Press Conference to list
out new Initiatives of Railway’s Mechanical Directorate
Member Mechanical,
Railway Board Shri Hemant Kumar today held a press conference to list out new
recent initiatives taken by Railway’s Mechanical directorate. Shri Hemant Kumar
said that the Railways is planning to introduce condition based monitoring system
for timely detection of abnormality build up in rolling stock as well as
for localized monitoring of track. Shri Hemant Kumar also gave details
about two recently held events namely International Conference on Rail
Interiors and International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE). Shri Hemant
Kumar also informed that a locomotive capable of running both on
electricity as well as diesel is under development at Diesel Locomotive Works,
Varanasi. This loco will not only make operations more flexible thereby
increasing the throughput, but will also result in saving of fuel. Following
is the brief summary of points mentioned by Member Mechanical, Railway Board
Shri Hemant Kumar :-
1. Recent Events
a. International Conference on Rail Interiors – was held on 9th and 10th October,
2015 to share and explore new concepts and technologies in coach interiors
aimed towards better comfort, safety and security of passengers.
b. International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) – was held from 14th to 16th October
2015 in association with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) . Japan was
the partner country for the IREE. Exhibitors and representatives from 20
countries participated and set up appx. 400 stalls displaying the latest
technology related to the railways.
In the above two events the following items
for coach interiors were identified for further evaluation, implementation,
development of vendors etc.:
i) New furnishing materials like
long lasting and fire-retardant cushions
ii) Ergonomically designed seats and berths
iii) Fire detection and suppression systems
iv) New material and design concepts for coach partitions and walls
v) Scratch resistant coatings
vi) Thermal and sound insulating materials and paints
vii) Dirt resistant and long lasting materials for bed linen
viii) Infotainment systems
ix) Security systems
x) Light weight materials like composites
The items to be pursued further, and their
implementation plan, will be decided within a month.
2. Condition Based Monitoring System
The Railways is planning to introduce condition
based monitoring system for timely detection of abnormality build up in rolling
stock as well as for localized monitoring of track. The system will
consist of two sub-systems – onboard system and roadside system. The onboard
system will detect abnormalities related to roller bearings, coach suspension
and localized track and the roadside system will detect wheel defects, hanging
parts, broken springs etc.
It is planned to provide water level indicators in
coach water tanks so that filling can be done in time to avoid inconvenience to
passengers. This will also reduce wastage of water while filling the tanks.
3. Other measures for passenger Comfort
i) Cleanliness measures being taken on trains:
· On Board House Keeping Services
A total of 571 trains have been provided with this
facility including 46 in 2015-16. 140 trains have been further identified to
cover total 711 trains. Criterion for provision of OBHS has been recently
revised to cover all important trains now. This would facilitate around 414
more trains to be provided with this facility taking the total to 1125 trains
by 2016-17.
· Clean Train Station Scheme:
There are 37 CTSs functional across Indian
Railways out of identified 43 locations and for the remaining tenders are
being processed.
· Provision of garbage disposable bags on trains:
a. Budget announced item, pilot trials have already started on Central and
Northern Railway. Trials on other railways on few trains are also planned.
b. Linen bags have been redesigned to serve the dual purpose.
c. Positive feedback has been received from the passengers.
· Laundries:
a. 38 laundries are already set up. This year around 10 laundries are expected
to be further added up. Total 64 laundries have been planned to be commissioned
in next two years.
b. Work is in advanced stage at Mysore, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dibrugarh,
Amritsar and Tirupati.
ii) Provision of Bio-toilets in coaches: So far 25,500
bio-toilets have been fitted in 8700 coaches of which 5700 toilets have been
fitted this year up to September. Integral Coach Factory and Rail
Coach Factory, Kapurthala are now turning out all coaches with bio-toilets
only.
iii) Manufacture of Anubhuti Coach: Budget announced
Anubhuti Class coach (prototype) has been planned to be manufactured in the
current year at ICF, Chennai. This rake will have upgraded interiors with all
modern amenities such as wifi, infotainment system etc.
iv) Model Rake with improved interiors : First
model rake with improved amenities shall also be turned out from BPL workshop
after mid-life rehabilitation in the current year.
v) DEMU with air-conditioned coach: In this year ICF has commenced manufacture of DEMU rakes with
an air-conditioned coach.
vi) Migration to 1600 HP indigenously developed 3-Phase AC-AC DEMU having 1
(DPC)+ 4 (TC) configuration: as against 1+3 of
1400 HP DC-DC DEMU the last of which was turned out this month.
vii) Prototype of coach fit to run at 200 kmph: is under
development at RCF and will be turned out this year.
4. Steps for Environment Conservation
1. Bio-diesel: 5% Bio-diesel blending implemented. Orders placed
by 13 Railways for 6200 Kl, of which 1200 Kl supplied.
2. Use of Solar Energy: Indian Railways
has taken the initiative of establishing solar plants on rooftops of railway
workshops/production units. A solar power plant of 1.8 MW will be set up at
Diesel Modernisation Works, Patiala. All new workshops/factories including
Wagon POH workshop at Badnera, Vishakapatnam & Traction Alternator Factory
at Vidisha are also being planned with Solar PV panels on shed roofs.
3. Accreditation for Energy Management Systems: Three PUs and one workshop were directed to take up work for
accreditation on Energy Management System ISO-50001, on pilot basis. ICF
has obtained the ENMS accreditation during September, 2015.
4. Water Recycling Plants: Upto 2014-15, Water
Recycling Plants were provided at 29 locations resulting in savings of 12
million litre of water per day. Sanction for water recycling plants at 10
major depots and 32 major stations has been provided in 2015-16. Water recycling
plants recently established in two coaching depots namely, BBQ/SR and GSN/SR,
of capacity 10 lakh and 2.2 lakh litres/per day respectively and two more are
under commissioning.
5. Waste to energy conversion plants: Project
Management work for setting up two pilot plants at New Delhi and Jaipur
entrusted to RITES. The technology and methodology in the Draft report
submitted by RITES is being studied and discussed with Municipal Solid Waste
management expert at MoUD.
6. Dual Mode locomotive: A locomotive
capable of running both on electricity as well as diesel is under development
at Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. This loco will not only make operations
more flexible thereby increasing the throughput, but will also result in saving
of fuel.
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