Indian Railways Thread

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 19 Oct 2015 12:26

Now, railway passengers can order food online via IRCT's e-catering services

Kolkata: The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a pilot project of a ‘station-based e-catering’ service allowing passengers to order meals as per their choice, which will be delivered at stations from popular private caterers.
In the first phase of the project, all trains passing through 45 specified railway stations, including nine in the east zone, namely Howrah, Sealdah, Guwahati, New Jalpaiguri, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Kharagpur and Mughalsarai have been named.

IRCTC_Screengrab

The other stations under this project are namely, New Delhi, Allahabad, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Varanasi, Chennai Central, Mumbai Central, Delhi, Bangalore city, Madurai, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Chandigarh, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Jaipur, Bilaspur, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Ludhiana, Secunderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Chennai Egmore, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Thrisur, Yasvantpur, Nagpur, Pune, Agra Cantt, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara.
“Station-based e-catering will be only for stations and not on moving trains. The service will allow passengers to either order meals online at www.ecatering.irctc.co.in or by calling 0120-2383892-99/ 1800-1034-139 (toll free) or by sending SMS Meal to 139 with details of PNR and seat number and the meals will be delivered at their berth,” IRCTC group General Manager, East Zone Debashis Chandra told PTI.
Besides food from IRCTC-managed food plazas and fast food units, reputed food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, Switz Foods, Only Alibaba, Dominos, Haldiram, Bikanerwala, Nirualas, Sagar Ratna, Pizza Hut which have a wide variety in menu have entered into a tie-up with IRCTC to serve the passengers passing through these stations.
“On receiving the meals, passengers have an option of making payment online or through cash on delivery mode,” Chandra said, adding, the delivery of food would be made through authorised persons.
“We have a dedicated call centre for this entire facility which is functioning from 6 am to 10 pm,” he said.
Talking about cancellation of orders, Chandra said, “They will also have an option to cancel their order two hours before reaching the station where the meals are scheduled to be delivered to them. In cases passengers have made online payment for their order, the amount will be refunded after deducting a cancellation charge.”
On food prices, Chandra said, “Food prices are to be market-driven but we are focused that the food items supplied are hygienically packaged in eco-friendly, bio-degradable take-away packets and usage of plastic for packaging must be minimal if not totally eliminated. In fact, we will conduct regular checks of stations to ensure that meals items are provided to the passengers.”
It was learnt, that alongside e-catering, IRCTC was offering meals from “Jan Ahaar” (budget food), food plazas and fast food units.
This pilot project will be continued till end of March next year after which a review will be conducted on the performance, he said.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 21 Oct 2015 04:01

Railways ministry changing processes to speed up project execution

Facing flak for the lack of capital expenditure and delays in implementation of major projects, the rail ministry has swung into action. It is tweaking the established process for project approvals to cut down delays. It is also drawing up mega spending plans to free up over-burdened lines.

The earlier time-consuming model involved inclusion of projects in the rail budget, seeking in-principle approval of NITI Aayog, clearance from the extended railway board, approval of the Union Cabinet, preparation followed by sanction of final location surveys and detailed estimates by the zonal railways and finally invitation of tenders.

“The entire process from conceiving a project to floating tenders used to take two-and-a-half years. But now, a committee of executive directors is selecting projects that are sent to the NITI Aayog for in-principle approval,” said a senior rail ministry official.

Another official explained the new approach has not dropped any stage of clearance, but has merely changed the traditional sequential process of seeking approvals, under which project files used to move from one table to another, into a parallel one. “Zonal railways are being asked to carry out final location survey immediately after inclusion of the work in the budget. After that, zonal railways will send the detailed project report (DPR) to the railway board with a reasonably firm cost.”

After examination of the DPRs in the railway board, the ministry sends request to NITI Aayog for in-principle approval. The ministry has advised zonal railways to call tenders immediately after the Aayog’s approval. “This has effectively reduced tender calling period from two years after inclusion of a project in the Pink Book to six to nine months,” the second official said.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 22 Oct 2015 11:39

Japan offers India soft loan for $15 billion bullet train in edge over China

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Oct 2015 23:46

Go for it! Connect all big cities by 2020! real quick!

It is sad that chinese are in-roading into Indian railways and metros.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 22 Oct 2015 23:52

If one can connect the west coast cities all the way up to Goa, it can be a really big boost to tourism. One can also do away with the need to have an airport in every large city.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 23 Oct 2015 00:01

but then, too many stops defeats the speed purpose. no?

bottom, traffic and people movement management can't be left with one type of infra. for the population we have, we need all types of services.

advanced air services, bullet trains point to point, HSR trains for frequent stops, metros within cities, and combined advancing road infrastructure.

we can straight away copy massan road infra as is mirrored.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 23 Oct 2015 00:05

Not for tourism. Pick 6-7 coastal cities and do a tour within 10 days, by hopping on and off at major towns. I think we are not being creative with possible end uses. Fly in to Kochi and one could be in Allapuzha in less than 30 minutes or even in Palakkad/Trichur etc.

One could also run limited stops if need be for just long distance travelers doing Goa to Trv with halts in Mangalore, Calicut, Kochi.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 23 Oct 2015 00:16

makes sense! make it so for tourism. but then what attracts tourists are the actual wonders, and not just the transport alone. KL can make billions in tourism! game!

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Oct 2015 08:39

India to get first dedicated rail freight corridor in December

India is likely to get its first freight-specific rail line commissioned in December, three months ahead of schedule, in Bihar. The 56-km stretch, part of the eastern arm of the ambitious Rs 82,000-crore dedicated freight corridor project, will ease coal evacuation traffic from mines in the eastern region.

“We will be able to bring the stretch between Durgawati and Sasaram into operation in December, ahead of the targeted commissioning at the end of the current financial year. We have submitted the papers to the CRS (Commission of Railway Safety) for safety clearance and his approval is expected to come in two months,” a senior executive at Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC), the special purpose vehicle implementing the project, told Business Standard.

The double-line pilot section will be commissioned with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, which has been sourced from the Indian Railways as equity. “Funding is not anymore a constraint for us. The Signalling and Electrification works for the stretch have been completed by Larsen & Toubro, while the civil works package was delivered by other domestic companies,” said the executive quoted above.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 29 Oct 2015 09:36

Finally! Yee gods. By my count it is 13 years since the project was first proposed, 2003 IIRC. I can't find any pictures of this section hopefully there will be a big bang of pictures when it begins....

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 Oct 2015 10:39

Bade wrote:Not for tourism. Pick 6-7 coastal cities and do a tour within 10 days, by hopping on and off at major towns. I think we are not being creative with possible end uses.

IRCTC has a similar kind of setup known as "Pilgrim specials". An entire special train is run covering all major temples in various parts of India. It is generally a 7-10 day trip. These "specials" would have rows of buses waiting them at major stations, where the pilgrims would all board them and visit the holy places. They either return in the evening to board the train again, or IRCTC arranges accomodation & food for them.

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 29 Oct 2015 11:14

It would be good to know if the first DFC section will support the 32.5 tonne axle load or the IR standard. Also would the rolling stock + locomotives work at the 4 times the usual freight rake loads?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 30 Oct 2015 06:02

Like "Pilgrim specials" they could start "Tourist specials" in regular routes with imported or same class of train-sets made in India with tickets priced at a premium rate. It does not have to be anywhere close to Maharaja class with tickets costing a few thousand dollars...but it can be as high as airfare or even slightly more. It will be a lapped up by the genuine tourists and NRIs too. Speed is not a criterion here, it is the experience which should be at par with what is available in the developed world... functional and not necessarily ultra-luxury coaches.

manjgu · Post by **manjgu** » 30 Oct 2015 09:00

nobody will travel in such a tourist special if fares are as high as air fares atleast no tourist....1st class a/c is comparable to air fare. How many tourists do u see there? i dont know if a hoho train concept can be devised?

srin · Post by **srin** » 30 Oct 2015 11:58

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... tart-soon/

Together, the projects represent a foreign direct investment of Rs 3,300 crore in railways under the ‘Make in India’ banner — the biggest ever for the sector. American multinational General Electric and French giant Alstom have qualified as lowest bidders for the diesel and electric loco factories, respectively. The diesel loco factory will cost Rs 2,052 crore, while the electric one will cost Rs 1,293.57 crore.

The Railways will provide land and own 26 per cent equity in the factories while agreeing to procure locomotives from these factories over 10 years. The two chosen companies, while supplying the engines, will also vouch for its maintenance. The deal is that the factories will provide Indian Railways with 800 electric locomotives of 12,000 horse power each and a mix of 1,000 diesel locomotives of 4,500 and 6,000 horsepower each with high level performance guarantee similar to international practices.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Nov 2015 11:27

Konkan Railway plans Rs 100cr station upgrade each year

NAVI MUMBAI: The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, which has completed its silver jubilee, plans to spend Rs 100 crore every year to upgrade facilities at stations along its 741-km route traversing four states.

The plan includes setting up facilities such as computerized reservation centres, escalators, CCTV surveillance, bio-toilets, Wi-Fi, solid waste management, disaster management centre, call centre, energy conservation and ATMs. Konkan Railway will also implement mega projects like Ratnagiri district's Jaigad Port connectivity, which costs Rs 750 crore.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Konkan Railway CMD Bhanu Tayal said, "At seven stations, conventional toilets have been replaced by bio-toilets for disposing human waste. We will soon have similar toilets in railway compartments to avoid dirtying tracks. We have replaced the yellow sodium lights inside tunnels with energy efficient LED lights as we concentrate on solid waste management and energy conservation."

"Two mega projects in the offing—the doubling of tracks and electrification—require an estimated Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 750 crore. Once we switch over to the electric mode from the diesel operations, Konkan Railway is expected around Rs 100 crore per annum. Track doubling will allow an increase in train services from the present 60 to 120. While these projects will take five years for completion, initially, LIC of India will give us loan of Rs 250 crore for 10 years and IIFCL Rs 1,100 crore. Tenders will be invited soon," he said.

"Another two projects in the pipeline are Chiplun-Karad and Vaibhavwadi-Kolhapur railway lines. These projects will cost Rs 3,000 crore and the state has assured us Rs 450 crore."

On the 35-km-long project in J&K, Tayal said it was on the verge of completion with only 5 km of tunnel remaining. "We plan to have transparent coaches so that passengers can enjoy the route beauty. Each coach will cost Rs 5 crore," he added.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 09 Nov 2015 05:43

Nod for GE, Alstom in Rs 40,000 cr loco projects in Bihar

Global giants GE and Alstom are likely to be awarded the contracts for setting up of multi- crore diesel and electric locomotive factories in Marhora and Madhepura in Bihar, marking the first major FDI in rail projects.

Dubbed as the first big ticket project under ‘Make in India’ initiative in the public transporter, GE and Alstom will be handed over the high value contract acceptance letters by Railways next week, according to railway sources.

The projects, closely monitored by the PMO, involve manufacturing of 1000 diesel locomotives and 800 electric locomotives over next 11 years and is worth about Rs 40,000 crore.

US multinational GE, which has emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 1,200 crore Marhora diesel locomotive factory, is expected to manufacture the 1,000 locomotives over 10 years. While 100 will be imported, rest will be manufactured at Marhora as part of the Make in India initiative.

French major Alstom, the lowest bidder for the Rs 1,000 crore Madhepura electric locomotive factory, will manufacture 800 high power electric locomotives locos in the next 11 years. It will manufacture 12,000 HP electric locomotives to be used for heavy haulage.

According to the contract, while 5 diesel locos will be imported, the rest 795 will be manufactured at Madhepura as part of the project. Maintenance of the locos will also be the responsibility of the company and for this it will set up two maintenance sheds at Nagpur and Sharanpur.

Of the 1,000 diesel locomotives to be manufactured by GE, 700 will be of 4,500 horse power (HP) and 300 of 6,000 HP.

With the government allowing 100 per cent FDI in Railways, the setting up of the two locomotive plants in joint venture mode is crucial for the public transporter in order to boost its infrastructure. The two projects are among the top eight infrastructure projects being monitored by the Prime Minster’s Office.

Railways will have 26 per cent equity while the global players will have 74 per cent equity in each of the plants.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 10 Nov 2015 06:10

OK, the contracts are awarded

GE, Alstom get contracts for Marhora, Madhepura loco projects

NEW DELHI: Railways today awarded contracts to global giants GE and AlstomBSE -1.70 % for setting up of about Rs 40,000 crore worth diesel and electric locomotive factories in Marhora and Madhepura respectively in Bihar, marking the first major FDI in rail projects.

Dubbed as the first big ticket project under 'Make in India' initiative in the public transporter, GE and Alstom were issued the letters of award for the high value contract acceptance letters, according to a senior Railway Ministry official.

The mega projects approved since 2007 by the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, got mired in controversies, years of red tape and indecision by successive ministers, finally saw the light of the day during Suresh Prabhu regime.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 10 Nov 2015 06:15

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34771521

General Electric to build new trains for India's railways

General Electric has won a $2.6bn (£1.7bn) contract from the Indian government to build a fleet of new trains for the country.
The US-based industrial company said it would supply India will 1,000 new diesel trains over the next 11 years.

The deal includes a $200m investment by GE to build new plants and warehouses.

GE chief executive Jeff Immelt said: "This infrastructure project is further evidence of India's position as a growth engine for Asia."
The agreement is the largest that GE has reached with the Indian government in the 113 years that the company has operated in the country.

The India government has been taking steps to improve the country's railways which are old and overcrowded. The country plans to spend $137bn over the next five years to modernise the system.

The plan is part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' scheme. The programme is intended to attract foreign investment to boost manufacturing in India.

GE has agreed to set up a manufacturing plant in the Marhowra district in the Indian state of Bihar along with maintenance sheds in Punjab and Gujarat.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 10 Nov 2015 06:54

The manufacture of the locomotives must not go to the Saran district in Bihar. They have to go to Punjab or Gujarat. Both Lalu and Niku will create hartals and all sorts of problems in implementing new locomotive manufacturing.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 10 Nov 2015 07:06

Mort Walker wrote:The manufacture of the locomotives must not go to the Saran district in Bihar. They have to go to Punjab or Gujarat. Both Lalu and Niku will create hartals and all sorts of problems in implementing new locomotive manufacturing.

It was planned during Lalu's tenure. Too late to change it now.

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 10 Nov 2015 08:07

GE and Alstom are one and the same, now Alstom has spun out energy business and telecommunications to GE completely
Earlier GEC of England was in team with Alstom in the manufacture of Electric and diesel electric locomotives.

The first DC locomotives in CR between Pune and Bombay were GECmengines

I just don't understand this clamor for foreign collaboration , RDSO DLW Varanasi BHEL Bhopal CLW can all easily build new and powerful engines. Each of them claims to have super duper R&D and ofcourse we do have super duper electrical engineering departments in great IITs

Everything from scooter engine to UAV small engines to turbines have to be imported... All in the age of make in India

...
Edited for auto word insertions where none were called for

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Nov 2015 08:11

IR loco plant R&D seems to be about slightly upgrading and localizing imported designs if you look back at history.
they need these periodic jumpstart infusions of new heavier tech (like WDG4/WDP4) and now the new electric locos to restart the cycle again.

I do not think they are able to come up with greenfield loco designs.

yes you are right, India is overall very weak in engines. if you look at top 10% of mech and manufacturing grads passing out every year for several decades - many moved for further studies to US and never returned, some moved to IIM or into manager/marketing roles in industry, Industry itself was hamstrung and trading mentality and licensed foreign designs rather than invest in domestic r&d............you cannot escape the overall picture here. every year 1000s of such grads move into ITvity.

there is almost nobody in india working in engine technology except GTRE and maybe some CV makers localizing foreign designs.

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 10 Nov 2015 08:42

Spinster wrote:GE and Alstom are one and the same, now Alstom has spun out energy business and telecommunications to GE completely
Earlier GEC of England was in team with Alstom in the manufacture of Electric and diesel electric locomotives.

The first DC locomotives in CR between Pune and Bombay were GECmengines

I just don't understand this clamor for foreign collaboration , RDSO DLW Varanasi BHEL Bhopal CLW can all easily build new and powerful engines. Each of them claims to have super duper R&D and ofcourse we do have super duper electrical engineering departments in great IITs

Everything from scooter engine to UAV small engines to turbines have to be imported... All in the age of make in India

...
Edited for auto word insertions where none were called for

I am extremely disappointed at handing over 76% to foreign interests with assured orders. Did we even try to negotiate for ToT while retaining 51%? This smacks like Laloo type honest deal co opted by BJP to destroy any possibility of Growth of Indian IP in locomotive engine manufactering. Another Import in India in garb of Make in India.

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 10 Nov 2015 09:01

Singha guru ji

The diesel loco is also powered by electric motors the AC loco engine. Also si powered by electric traction motors, the gear box (reduction) is also common the bogie to which the traction motors are attached are also common

So if we needed jus the diesel engine 18 or 16 v we could just import them, if we neede traction motors we could import them, if we neede steel,fabricated bogie we could out source them, but rest all we can build and gradually indegenise

Where there is will there more than a way

The diesel engine made by DLW Varanasi is complete steel,fabricated with cylinder liners of steel, and die cast Pistons and forged crank shafts,

We just want for ever screw driver technology

Oh the control system and Thyrestors and Magnetrons are made in India by BHEL itself

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 10 Nov 2015 09:08

I am confused. Is this deal for engines or trains or both? The BBC report says trains but it seems it is only for engines.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 10 Nov 2015 09:10

Spinster wrote:Singha guru ji

The diesel loco is also powered by electric motors the AC loco engine. Also si powered by electric traction motors, the gear box (reduction) is also common the bogie to which the traction motors are attached are also common

So if we needed jus the diesel engine 18 or 16 v we could just import them, if we neede traction motors we could import them, if we neede steel,fabricated bogie we could out source them, but rest all we can build and gradually indegenise

Where there is will there more than a way

The diesel engine made by DLW Varanasi is complete steel,fabricated with cylinder liners of steel, and die cast Pistons and forged crank shafts,

We just want for ever screw driver technology

Oh the control system and Thyrestors and Magnetrons are made in India by BHEL itself

marine diesels are(?)/were being made by some shipyards maybe in CKD form if not partial manufacture itself. There is a great deal of commonality between the loco and the marine diesel. May be CLW would benefit/leverage by looking at some of these projects

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Nov 2015 09:13

there is no IGDMP type project to put all available resources under one umbrella and do a product. the lead system integrator which is loco factory prefers the screw driver route as its much easier and initially cheaper....just like HAL does. manuals, trainers all come readymade with no head scratching.

someone from outside has to force the pindigenization process.

if we look at cheen locos they could not make HSR locos by themselves. initially the imported japanese and german, but followed through and chindigenized by hook or crook and today are able to bid to export HSR. they just won indonesia deal much to the disgust of the japanese. terrified by that prospect japan has offered a huge soft loan if we invest in HSR, but again I doubt mentally the loco factories are setup for domestic product development.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 10 Nov 2015 09:17

These are two locomotive factories. The diesel factory at Marhowra will make 1000 diesel locos, 700 of which will be 4500hp ones, and the remainder 6000hp ones. This deal went to GE. Of these 1000, a 100 will be imported and all the rest made at Marhowra. The electric loco factory at Madhepura will build 800 electric locomotives of 12000hp, which makes them almost as powerful as the world's most powerful locomotives - the 12700hp China Railways locomotives. Of these 5 will be imported and the rest made at home. This deal went to Alstom. They are good choices, reflecting the strengths of the bidders.

IR, from what I know, is capable of designing and building good locomotives. However it doesn't have the motive power technology. It has turned to the west for diesel motors, and the Japanese for electric motors. It would be better if someone like BHEL or Kirloskar developed large diesels and traction motors, not IR themselves.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 10 Nov 2015 10:27

BHEL does make good traction motors, but could they make 100 every year for 10 years? Part of this deal is to build up manufacturing infrastructure. I think Bihar is just the wrong place for it. It may become an island of manufacturing where there aren't enough ancillary industries to support it along with an illiterate local workforce. The supplies will come from other states and skilled workforce too causing costs to go up, then add the clowns in charge of the state government raising all sorts of work stoppage due to goondagiri.

arun · Post by **arun** » 10 Nov 2015 12:43

Kakkaji wrote:OK, the contracts are awarded

GE, Alstom get contracts for Marhora, Madhepura loco projects

NEW DELHI: Railways today awarded contracts to global giants GE and AlstomBSE -1.70 % for setting up of about Rs 40,000 crore worth diesel and electric locomotive factories in Marhora and Madhepura respectively in Bihar, marking the first major FDI in rail projects.

Dubbed as the first big ticket project under 'Make in India' initiative in the public transporter, GE and Alstom were issued the letters of award for the high value contract acceptance letters, according to a senior Railway Ministry official.

The mega projects approved since 2007 by the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, got mired in controversies, years of red tape and indecision by successive ministers, finally saw the light of the day during Suresh Prabhu regime.

GE Press release confirming news regards Marhowra diesel locomotive project:

GE to supply 1,000 locomotives to Indian Railways

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 10 Nov 2015 23:57

Are we getting these Cuties from Alstom?

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 11 Nov 2015 00:49

Those are TGVs

Probably something like the Prima II or 2ES5:
Alstom 2ES5 11400hp electric freight locomotive

Alstom Prima II

The China Railways 12800hp HDX2 locomotives are derivatives of the Prima II.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 11 Nov 2015 01:14

Singha wrote: every year 1000s of such grads move into ITvity.

there is almost nobody in india working in engine technology except GTRE and maybe some CV makers localizing foreign designs.

The problem is the salary differences. Mech Enggrs. in CAD/CAE get more than shop floor hard hatters. Even in case of MTech (Design), MTech (CS/Software Engg.)/MCAs get more than the former in the IT majors. BTech (Prod. Engg) are very well suited for Supply chains discipline and that is what they specialize in IIMs and are lost forever to the manufacturing industry.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Nov 2015 07:13

I really hope they retain the AC and toilet. life for a driver is hard enough. it will also prolong life of the next gen avionics inside.

member_24684 · Post by **member_24684** » 11 Nov 2015 07:54

.

From

Alstom to supply 800 double electric locomotives to Indian Railways

Alstom has received a Letter of Award[1] from the Ministry of Railways to supply Indian Railways with 800 double section freight electric locomotives with associated long-term maintenance[2]. The total contract is worth above €3 billion. This project includes the set-up of a plant at Madhepura (Bihar state) and two maintenance depots at Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh state) and Nagpur (Maharashtra state). The delivery of the locomotives will spread between 2018 and 2028.The Prima locomotive for Indian Railways will be 9,000 kW at the wheel rim and will run at a speed up to 120 km/h. This contract positions Alstom as the number one on heavy-haul electric locomotives segment with now over 1,200 double locomotives ordered for the last decade.

[1] The contract is expected to be booked in the course of 2016

[2] 13 years for the first 250 locomotives and 4 years for the following 250

tsarkar · Post by **tsarkar** » 11 Nov 2015 10:25

I'm a bit perplexed with these orders.

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) does manufacture state of the art WAP-7/WAG-9 electric locomotives, however, the government still orders older generation WAP-4 and WAG-7. Similarly, Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) Varanasi also manufactures WDP-4/WDG-4 locomotives while the government still orders older WDM-3 models.

It might have been cheaper to order newer products from existing factories.

The condition of our tracks do not allow leveraging the higher horsepower of new engines. Even newer WAP-7/WAG-9 and WDP-4/WDG-4 models run slower than capable because tracks are not robust enough.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 11 Nov 2015 10:38

^^^
I suspect there is a financing component to this.
Last i heard the WDP-4/WDG-4 cost ~ three times the cost of a WDM-3, so...

Chittaranjan & DLW have not come up with new improved models so need to import.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 11 Nov 2015 13:55

vayu tuvan wrote:The problem is the salary differences. Mech Enggrs. in CAD/CAE get more than shop floor hard hatters.

The above is true only in IT-Vity Service sector jobs. Take the Service sector out and the pay difference ain't that stellar anymore! Actually, if one wants to truly "learn" engineering, it is in places other than Service Sector spaces. A small percentage of employees in service sector get to work on outstanding projects that adds huge value to the employees skills.

Of course for a fresh graduate the allure towards higher pay & a comfortable AC environment (not to mention bragging rights) is more dominant than the desire to learn via slogging at lower pay scales.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 11 Nov 2015 14:06

Has GE mentioned which locomotives will be supplied to India? The press articles mention both 4,500 & 6,000 HP locomotives. Will it be based on GE Evolution series (4500 HP models) & AC6000CW (6000 HP models)? AC6000CW had lot of reliability issues which led to its premature retirement from major US railroads (along with EMD's competitor SD90MAC).

Whatever happened to DLW's plan of developing a 5000 HP (or 5500 HP) loco along with EMD which was designated WDG-5? Last I heard, it had some major issues especially with vibration.

I understand GE is leading Diesel-electric loco market currently but what is the long term plan of IR? Tie up with GE just for manufacturing and still continue with EMD (Caterpillar) for small R&D projects?

I guess we will be operating diesel-electric locomotives from 3 US giants...ALCO (non-existent), EMD & GE