Indian Railways Thread

Yayavar · Post by **Yayavar** » 09 Dec 2012 22:59

^^lucky you. My last trip to Jaipur had these students on who kept pulling the chain and the railway police/authorities just shrugged. There were too many of them. The train was a start and stop. 7 -8 hours late. My kids swore they will not travel by train again. It was a miserable journey. That is why now I do the train travel on my own for my pleasure. My family prefers air or road. I do feel miffed with the last travel - it was a hoax. This puja special.

But overall it is still good for the number of people it moves.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 09 Dec 2012 23:53

Distinctly remember last train jourey:
from journey - met with two chemists, a Ph.D. in Physics all in 25-35 age group and in the same compartment. had good time discussing few aspects of each field.
return journey - An aspiring CA, retired Civil Engineer(some dept.'s head), two businessmen in the same compartment. had good time discussing some aspects of each field of course.

Good times.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 10 Dec 2012 02:31

Last 15 yrs, every time I go to India, I make it a point that I travel by train in one or the other trips. Few times took entire family (20-30 people

) to Gaya-Kashi-Prayaga/Tirupati trips. It was the best experiences of our family's history. This year's trip included train journey from Delhi to Hyderabad. Everyone called me crazy to fly from Massa, go to Gongotri and then have patience and energy to have 36 hour train journey. But as usual I enjoyed it very much.

Indian railways rock, dispite the delays, lack of facilities etc., Indian Railways show you real Bharat. That should be their motto - "Blissful Bharat!"

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 10 Dec 2012 03:42

That rocking feel is not because IR. but it is the people like you all socialize well on the train rocks.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 10 Dec 2012 03:49

IR gives you the platform, a forum, to meet Bharatiyas from all over and to travel all over Bharat, in a dust free and Nausea free environment. Don't forget the availability of toilets

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 10 Dec 2012 03:51

Again you get what you asked for. It is all you folks make IR .

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 11 Dec 2012 21:59

"Indian railways rock, dispite the delays, lack of facilities etc., Indian Railways show you real Bharat. That should be their motto - "Blissful Bharat!""

Indian railways is very impressive, despite the problems, and the occasional accidents, which are awful when they occur. It's really a wonderful system, and vast. My favourite journey is between Chennai and Bangalore, on any of those trains( lalbagh, Brindavan etc).

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 12 Dec 2012 11:41

The coaches definitely rocks. You know, move and sway!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Dec 2012 13:26

the noises hide any noises made by honeymooners in the 2 bed coupes.

chennai blr is a dull journey with hardly anything scenic to munch on.
try the east coast exp from hyd or chennai to kolkata or any of the long haul trains from kerala to guwahati. you will cross krishna, godavari, mahanadi, bleak grasslands of western orissa, chilka lake, lush mahanadi area, the rice fields and tiled villages of WB , ganga, and finally the mass of rivers, lakes and bamboo groves among the fields of assam and lastly the brahmaputra.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 12 Dec 2012 14:04

^^
Yeah. The Farakka dam looks great, specially when it is lit up in the night.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 12 Dec 2012 17:47

what you guys are saying is not IR, but India.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 12 Dec 2012 19:28

"chennai blr is a dull journey with hardly anything scenic to munch on."

It's very appealing, by association. It's the journey I've taken the most, and to visit relatives in both cities. Also, fond memories from childhood. Not so much for the scenic quality. But it's a relatively short and sweet ride.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 12 Dec 2012 21:05

Singha is right about the east coast ride which I have done often during childhood. Last east coast one was more than 15 yrs back. From kerala to Bengal as I have not done Assam, the landscape and language changes much more than a west coast ride would.

I did the new konkan rail only once from Bhopal to Trichur via Goa ten years ago and the experience does not change much along the west coast at least landscape wise. It is clearly more interesting as one passes through MP and Maharashtra's dry regions.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 13 Dec 2012 13:14

Another derailment in Kerala. And looks like ill-maintained and old coaches are the cause of it (again).

Rajya Rani Express derails near Tiruvalla
It was the age-old AC coach which got derailed and sheets of iron were found strewn on the tracks. Smoke was also noticed from the track. Hearing a loud thud, passengers immediately pulled the emergency chain and the train came to a halt.
..................
Sabotage has been ruled out and the cause of the mishap was due to the very old coaches, according to railways

Vernacular reports add on that the casings holding the batteries broke off, and the batteries themselves landed under the train wheels

.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 13 Dec 2012 20:45

so old coaches and then the tracks will be done in as well by these coaches. a complete redesign our IR coaches and tracks can be considered by our IITs for the future.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Dec 2012 10:24

Third Steam Loco for NMR before mid-January - The Hindu

The third new oil-fired steam locomotive meant for the Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) is expected to roll out from the Golden Rock Railway Workshop here before mid-January.

Similar to the second steam loco dispatched in February this year, the third loco has also been fitted with an all-welded boiler instead of a riveted design boiler equipped in the first loco.

Major works involved in the manufacture of the third steam loco have already been completed and the engine would be tested at the workshop before being dispatched for operation.

The metre gauge steam loco, belonging to ‘X’ class, would also be equipped with two water tanks made of stainless steel.

Workshop authorities here said 80 per cent of the works for manufacture of the third loco has been completed and the engine was expected to be dispatched before Pongal.

Barring the boiler, the rest of the components required for the manufacture of the steam loco have been produced at the workshop which is engaged in a myriad of activities including manufacture of container wagons and periodic overhaul of diesel engines and passenger coaches. Around 2,000 to 3,000 components had been utilised for the manufacture of the third loco.

Low viscosity furnace oil would be used as the main fuel for the oil-fired steam locomotive, which can run at a speed of 30 kilometres per hour in the plains and 15 kilometres per hour in the gradient.

The loco has been provided with pinion arrangement to operate on the hilly NMR section that has a rack bar arrangement in the stretch from Kallar to Coonoor. Passenger coaches are hauled by a diesel engine in the remaining stretch from Coonoor to Udhagamandalam.

Officials said the two oil-fired steam locos sent earlier were working well, adding that the fourth would be dispatched in June.

The Railway Board had entrusted the over 80-year-old workshop with the task of manufacturing four new oil-fired steam locos for use in the NMR section and sanctioned Rs.40 crore for this work. The new oil-fired locos are replacement for the over-aged steam locos already in use in the NMR section.

Locos to Myanmar

The authorities said the workshop would be exporting four more MG diesel locos to Myanmar after carrying out necessary modifications in them.

Two locos have been readied and would be dispatched to Myanmar before this month. The remaining locos would be sent before April next year.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 24 Dec 2012 13:27

Any idea why steam loco in this day and age??

I know Electric will be ruled out in NMR due to the elephant using most of the sections, elephants dying of electrification, pulling out poles etc.

Is it because of UNESCO status Steam and Meter guage have to be maintained?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Dec 2012 14:35

Aditya_V wrote:Is it because of UNESCO status Steam and Meter guage have to be maintained?

One reason could be the above. Secondly the climb from Mettupalayam to Conoor is really steep. What I have heard is that Diesel locos cannot take the train up this steep hill. Diesel locos how ever are used between Conoor and Ooty, which is not very steep.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Dec 2012 19:51

iirc have seen this meaty looking diesel lad hauling up the train from mettupalyam to conoor earlier this year. our hotel overlooked the train line and came before the conoor stn, so it was the mettupalyam train we saw
http://www.indiamike.com/files/images/2 ... tation.jpg

but maybe I am mistaken, didnt take a photo.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Dec 2012 12:42

Pir Panjal ready to link Kashmir Valley

Train passengers in the Kashmir Valley can soon travel up to Banihal with railways on Tuesday announcing completion of the key Qazigund-Banihal section which also comprises the longest transportation tunnel in the country built after a seven-year effort.

Opening of this section promises a new beginning for the state as it will not only ease the transportation problem of people during winters when inclement weather forces closure of Jawahar Tunnel but will also considerably reduce the travel time between the two places.

The distance between Banihal and Qazigund, which is also one of the most treacherous stretches in the entire Kashmir rail network project, will reduce from 35 km by road to 17.729 km on train.

According to Northern Railway, trial runs have already started in the section, which forms a vital link in the project connecting Udhampur to Baramulla.

“This section, constructed at an expenditure of Rs 1691 crores, will be ready for opening shortly,” said a senior Northern Railway official.

The highlight of the section, which will enable commuters to travel right up to Baramulla through Srinagar from Banihal, is the 11.2 km long tunnel under the Pir Panjal mountain range, billed as an engineering marvel.

The tunnel, which also has a service road running parallel to the track is the second longest in Asia, is constructed at a cost of Rs 1300 crore.

It took almost seven years to complete the tunnel. About 7,500 metric tonnes of steel, 3,28,000 cubic metres of concrete has been used and 10,00,000 cubic metres of underground excavation has been done to complete the tunnel.

About 1300 workers and 150 engineers worked round the clock to accomplish this challenging task, Northern Railways said.

The section comprises 39 bridges which include two major ones, 30 minor bridges and seven road over bridge and road under bridges.

The tunnel has been constructed by New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) which was used for the first time on such large scale in India.

The tunnel has been made water proof by providing continuous PVC membrane between primary and secondary lining and is equipped with the state-of-the-art air quality monitoring system, ventilation system, communication system etc.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 28 Dec 2012 11:15

Meanwhile, for those interested, the CAG's scathing indictment of the planning of Kashmir Railway is now online. Some of it is quite hilarious I promise....
The CAG is incorrect in its criticism. This is a political/strategic project and a economically viable one.

http://saiindia.gov.in/english/home/Our ... rt_19.html

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 29 Dec 2012 23:16

The amount of jugaad that has gone in to the kashmir railway amazes me, no chi-chi german equipment all desi stuff adapted to the needs. Check out the pdf below and the photos in it

http://wiki.iricen.gov.in/doku/lib/exe/ ... :rkg_1.pdf

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 30 Dec 2012 03:52

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/oth ... 252077.ece

Northern Railway made history on Friday as the first train chugged through India’s longest railway tunnel in the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting Kashmir Valley to Banihal town on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 30 Dec 2012 04:35

^is it my eyes, or something wrong in the alignment of the track leading to the engine? I see wobbled unparalleled rails.

alexis · Post by **alexis** » 02 Jan 2013 14:11

It is parallel; however the section is at a higher plane and gives that wobbled look.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 04 Jan 2013 15:19

How useful will this line be in any military options that we may need to carry out in Kashmir?

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 05 Jan 2013 17:10

Very useful, moving men equipment, especially heavy equipment much faster.

Rishirishi · Post by **Rishirishi** » 07 Jan 2013 02:58

Will it be in the interest of terrorists (TSP) to sabotage this link?

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 08 Jan 2013 10:14

BEML supplies nation's first stainless steel EMUs to IR

Arunkumar · Post by **Arunkumar** » 08 Jan 2013 11:10

Isnt Railway coach factory, kapurthala already manufacturing SS coaches. In Mumbai many rakes are SS.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 08 Jan 2013 11:30

BEML report mentions SS Electrical multiple units, not unpowered coaches. A regional news report says that BEML back ported the metro tech to develop the EMU's for suburban trains.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 09 Jan 2013 16:51

Train fares hiked across the board for first time in 10 years

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 09 Jan 2013 18:18

Finally Lalu rubbish being reversed, a 3% hike every year since 2004 would have avoided this mess

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 09 Jan 2013 21:42

Hold on. Its not over yet. Wait for the reaction.

I expect mamata to destroy kolkata in her attempt to prove a point.

Looks like a 10%-15% type hike. Not enough IMO.

As a result of the proposed hike, ordinary Second Class suburban fares for a distance of 35 km will go up by Rs 2 from Rs 8 to Rs 10, while in the non-suburban trains it will go up by Rs 5 for an average distance of 135 km.
In Sleeper Class, the increase would mean a hike of Rs 50 for a distance of 770 km from Rs 270 to Rs 320. In the case of AC Chair Car, for a distance of 387 km, the increase would be Rs 40 from Rs 345 to Rs 385. In the case of AC Three Tier, for a distance of 717 km, the fare will go up from Rs 724 to Rs 800, an increase of Rs 76.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Jan 2013 12:45

Ballastless tracks to facilitate operation of highspeed trains - The Hindu

The Indian Railways will switch to ballastless tracks on seven routes, including the Chennai-Bangalore sector, identified for operating high-speed trains, said A.P. Mishra, Member, Engineering, Railway Board, on Friday.

“Ballastless tracks that allow operation of high-speed trains and have the benefits of lower maintenance requirements and increased service life are the choice by default for these high-speed rail corridors, tunnelling projects and tracks near platforms,” Mr. Mishra said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day technical symposium on improving rail and rail welds and evolving appropriate design for ballastless tracks hosted by the Institution of Permanent Way Engineers (IPWE).

Feasibility studies are at various stages of completion on the high-speed routes, including Chennai-Bangalore, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chandigarh sectors.

According to Mr. Mishra, new tracks would have to be laid for the Chennai-Bangalore route where the plan is to operate trains at speeds in excess of 250 km per hour. The average speed on the Delhi-Mumbai route, where existing tracks are being used for trials of high-speed trains is about 200 kmph

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 17 Jan 2013 10:24

Barge crashes into Pamban rail bridge

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 305049.ece

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 19 Jan 2013 12:04

Hope this repaired and trains running now, interesting, the Broad gauge tracks have been laid leaving the old meter guage tracks still in place.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2013 17:42

Train Engines to have Toilet Facilities for the First Time - Business Line

For the first time, train drivers will have toilet facility in the engine cabin itself.

“It is a basic need and we have tried to provide toilet facility for loco pilots in the locomotives itself,” Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told PTI today after inspecting the first diesel engine fitted with a toilet and wash basin at the New Delhi station.

Till now, locomotives did not have toilet facility leaving the driver to use toilets at stations depending upon the halt time. Drivers have been demanding such facility in the engines for a long time.

In a retro-fitting exercise, the Railways have provided a toilet and wash basin in a 3300 HP diesel engine as part of a pilot project. The retro-fitting of toilet has been done at the Charbagh workshop in Lucknow.

“Toilet has been provided on a trial basis and we are planning to replicate the exercise in other locomotives used in the long distance travel,” Bansal said.

Such toilet facility is expected to benefit drivers in trains like Rajdhani which have less stoppages.

The Railway Minister also visited the control room and waiting halls at the station and gave instructions to the staff concerned for maintaining cleanliness and hygienic conditions in rail premises.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 31 Jan 2013 07:50

Finally some progress on my obsessive compulsive project....

It is good to know 82% of the land has been acquired without too much fuss. Now they approach the water hole of the fearsome WB land acquisition monster...

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... ncial-bids

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) on Thursday granted its first major contract worth Rs 3,300 crore for construction of 343-km double track line between Kanpur and Khurja. A joint venture of Tata and Spanish firm Aldesa won the contract from among 10 other bidders through an international competitive bidding process.

Approximately, 8000 hectares of land spread over nine states and 61 districts have been acquired in a span of less than three years for both the corridors. The remaining 18% land acquisition is in progress.

saip · Post by **saip** » 31 Jan 2013 08:53

SSridhar wrote:Train Engines to have Toilet Facilities for the First Time - Business Line
For the first time, train drivers will have toilet facility in the engine cabin itself.

“It is a basic need and we have tried to provide toilet facility for loco pilots in the locomotives itself,” Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told PTI today after inspecting the first diesel engine fitted with a toilet and wash basin at the New Delhi station.

Till now, locomotives did not have toilet facility leaving the driver to use toilets at stations depending upon the halt time. Drivers have been demanding such facility in the engines for a long time.

In a retro-fitting exercise, the Railways have provided a toilet and wash basin in a 3300 HP diesel engine as part of a pilot project. The retro-fitting of toilet has been done at the Charbagh workshop in Lucknow.

“Toilet has been provided on a trial basis and we are planning to replicate the exercise in other locomotives used in the long distance travel,” Bansal said.

Such toilet facility is expected to benefit drivers in trains like Rajdhani which have less stoppages.

The Railway Minister also visited the control room and waiting halls at the station and gave instructions to the staff concerned for maintaining cleanliness and hygienic conditions in rail premises.

What do they do in Duranto expresses from Chennai to Kolkata?

I thought only in India they squat but I realized even in China, Japan, Turkey, Egypt etc they squat.

Link