Indian Railways Thread

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 24 Feb 2010 12:43

I have seen double decker trains in VT in 1991!

What's so new?

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 24 Feb 2010 14:26

Ray sir ji, nothing new, but wouldnt this need a lot of re work, like increasing the height of the power cables. Also new coaches need to be designed and assembled.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Feb 2010 15:03

krishnan wrote:Ray sir ji, nothing new, but wouldnt this need a lot of re work, like increasing the height of the power cables. Also new coaches need to be designed and assembled.

Not required. The double decker coaches are designed in such a way that the traction cables needs to be put up at more height. Check for google images of Bombardier double decker coaches. See how the two decks are arranged, without alterting the over-all height of the coach

. In EU, both single deck and double deck coaches operate on the same tracks.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 24 Feb 2010 15:16

Well lets just hope it doesnt end up like the center side birth

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 24 Feb 2010 15:42

Sachin wrote:
krishnan wrote:Ray sir ji, nothing new, but wouldnt this need a lot of re work, like increasing the height of the power cables. Also new coaches need to be designed and assembled.
Not required. The double decker coaches are designed in such a way that the traction cables needs to be put up at more height. Check for google images of Bombardier double decker coaches. See how the two decks are arranged, without alterting the over-all height of the coach . In EU, both single deck and double deck coaches operate on the same tracks.

The ICF at Kapurthala sent their tech division to study Sydney's CityRail service. They operate the double decker coaches with 1.5 Kv DC transmission and plans are afoot to build the coaches at Perambur for Ir as well, this study was carried out in 2005 and so it must be comprehensive. Sleeper versions would involve more complexity. There might also be an addition of a rectification/AC-DC module if we are to build a variant with licence from Downer EDI.

What about the next generation of locos though? These coaches will definitely need improved D-E locos or will have to be EMU powered. This brings me to my next question:

What is the advantage/disadvantage of EMU trains for long distance travel?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Feb 2010 16:44

Klaus wrote:What is the advantage/disadvantage of EMU trains for long distance travel?

I am not a technical expert. MEMUs (Main Line Electrical Multiple Unit) and EMUs are generally run continously only for 4 hours. After that they need to be pulled out (for perhaps a cooling down). This point was highlighted when there was a plan to run MEMUs in short strecthes in the "Socialist Republic". When routes were planned, it was in such a way that they can be covered in a 4 hour stretch.

BTW, we already have DC traction locos in between Mumbai and Pune. These locos generally have the code WCAM. The double decker coaches which now the IR has are "Chair cars".

ManuJ · Post by **ManuJ** » 24 Feb 2010 23:38

Some good developments in the railway budget:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands to get railway line from Port Blair to Diglipur

This is about 200 kms long, covers almost the entire length of the main island.

Kashmir role link to be extended to Sopore

Though, isn't the link already there?

Railways to have master plan for North Eastern region

I am glad they are thinking about that region. Better late than never. With the new found urgency wrt China, this master plan may even be implemented!

Link

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 25 Feb 2010 00:22

ManuJ wrote:Andaman and Nicobar Islands to get railway line from Port Blair to Diglipur

This is about 200 kms long, covers almost the entire length of the main island.[/quote]

Seems pointless with the population/freight requirements there. Sure to die in committee.

Kashmir role link to be extended to Sopore

Though, isn't the link already there?[/quote]

This is probably the Sopore to Kupwara 50 km link. The cost is likely to be in the 500 crore range which the railways do not have.

vina · Post by **vina** » 25 Feb 2010 05:12

I am flabbergasted. Mamta has proposed a move towards Accrual Accounting ( A Cruel Accounting for newbies learing it surely

) for Indian Railways.

I thought the railways were different, since they were nationalized for multiple private companies and hence would have the standard double entry based accrual system that would conform to most GAAP.

Sigh.. it seems that I was mistaken. It had the same "govt accounting of the CAG" type.. For all those folks about "Lalu's turnaround' and everything.. Scratch that. It is all hokey accounting.

In fact, when I first started posting here in BR in 2004 or so, I had slammed the MoD for this accounting business and challenged the DPSu/OFB supporters to post financial numbers for the past 20 years or to do a decent comparable and ROC analysis. It was only after the Kelkar report , the MoD and the OFBs went for the standard double entry accounting system.

Without such basics in place, it is close to impossible to figure out managerial and financial performance with any degree of standard and clarity, and close to impossible to do any comparision. That degenerates into Shanghai stats.

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 25 Feb 2010 05:47

Theo_Fidel wrote:
This is probably the Sopore to Kupwara 50 km link. The cost is likely to be in the 500 crore range which the railways do not have.

Why 500 crore?

ManuJ · Post by **ManuJ** » 25 Feb 2010 06:35

Theo_Fidel wrote:Seems pointless with the population/freight requirements there. Sure to die in committee

I would love to see that line implemented for strategic reasons. The current road distance between the two places is 290 kms, and takes 13 hours of travel time. Too long. Also, if I am not wrong, Diglipur is the source of that island's only river and a dam is coming up there.

Theo_Fidel wrote:This is probably the Sopore to Kupwara 50 km link. The cost is likely to be in the 500 crore range which the railways do not have.

Ah! That makes more sense. Thanks.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 25 Feb 2010 21:31

RayC wrote:Why 500 crore?

Existing 120 km valley system cost 1500 crore.

Apparently there are a ton of streams and water bodies in the way.

nachiket · Post by **nachiket** » 26 Feb 2010 00:53

ManuJ wrote:
Theo_Fidel wrote:Seems pointless with the population/freight requirements there. Sure to die in committee
I would love to see that line implemented for strategic reasons. The current road distance between the two places is 290 kms, and takes 13 hours of travel time. Too long. Also, if I am not wrong, Diglipur is the source of that island's only river and a dam is coming up there.

13 hours for 290 km?

The road obviously needs major improvement.

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 26 Feb 2010 13:16

Sachin wrote:MEMUs (Main Line Electrical Multiple Unit) and EMUs are generally run continously only for 4 hours. After that they need to be pulled out (for perhaps a cooling down). This point was highlighted when there was a plan to run MEMUs in short strecthes in the "Socialist Republic".

EMU's for High speed rail links are generally designed for trips around 3 hours as well, however the definition of high speed rail has to be modified to suit Indian needs as the max speed will be definitely around the 175 kmph mark only (lesser in more populated areas)

Given the lower population density in Kashmir region vis a vis the rest of the country, we could use the concept of the tilting train technology, this technology has worked in countires with sub-zero temperatures and hilly territory. Provided we have earthquake warning systems and continuous welded rail, high speed rail for Kashmir (and possibly Ladakh too) should not be a problem.

Re the Master plan for Northeast region, one-liners do not serve to give any idea as to what strategic objectives are being met. The EAC could do well with a dedicated standard-gauge system with its own monitoring and disaster management systems, completely fenced off without grade crossings.

AjayKK · Post by **AjayKK** » 04 Mar 2010 15:05

B Rajaram - Do Indian Railways lack vision?

arun · Post by **arun** » 21 Mar 2010 11:56

Railways ad goof-up: Delhi in Pakistan, Kolkata in Bay of Bengal

RayC · Post by **RayC** » 21 Mar 2010 14:46

arun wrote:Railways ad goof-up: Delhi in Pakistan, Kolkata in Bay of Bengal

Heads will roll.

That is how the buck gets passed.

Mamata is a unique creature!

She is eyeing the CM's seat. Hopefully we are not at sea then!

I have no objection to having some Pakistan territory to be renamed Delhi!

Note how aggressive this woman is! Pakistan is India!

A Nandy · Post by **A Nandy** » 22 Mar 2010 00:58

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2 ... -rail-link

Interesting plans from the Chinese !!!...is this even feasible ?

In 2020, Take a High-Speed Train from Beijing to London !!

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 22 Mar 2010 00:58

Flicker photostream on Indian Railways Luxury trains

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14589121@N ... 062786652/

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 22 Mar 2010 01:03

Indian Railways's goof up.

Delhi in Pakistan and kolkata next to Singapore. Or is the map misunderstood? Not a Goof up in the truest sense.

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 22 Mar 2010 01:15

That looks like two layers on different scales overlapped to form a stupidly disjointed image.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 22 Mar 2010 01:17

Or some artist being a wee bit too artisty, trying to bring the route in greater focus.

Leave it to the media to make a hash of things.

PS: The media didn't report that bandhavgarh and gaya are in the middle of the bay of bengal.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 22 Mar 2010 07:30

^^ What exactly is that the artist was trying to show here. Can some one explain the arrows and the line connecting the stations.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Mar 2010 09:56

Afcons to build India's first under-water train tunnel

Afcons Infrastructure, the infrastructure arm of Shapoorji Pallonji group, has bagged a Rs 938-crore contract from Kolkata Metro Railway
Corporation (KMRC) for a critical stretch of the Rs 4,678-crore East-West Metro that includes three underground stations and a section under the river Hooghly.

This is the first time that a transportation tunnel running 20 metre below a river will be built in India.

Afcons Infrastructure will design and execute the project dubbed “UG 1” through a recently formed strategic JV with a Russian company Transtonnelstroy. The Transtonnelstroy Afcons JV is slated to construct a 3.89-km stretch, including 520 metres of the underwater section

“For the underwater stretch, we’ve tied up with Atkins, a Dubai-based company which is a leading consultant for underwater tunneling,”R V Ramanan director (transporatation) of Afcons said.

Incidentally, Atkins which has worked on the Dubai Metro will also assist Afcons to monitor and study the impact of tunnelling on the buildings and structure above ground. Mr Ramanan director (transportation) of Afcons signed the agreement for the project with KMRC officials on Saturday.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 22 Mar 2010 09:58

VikasRaina wrote:^^ What exactly is that the artist was trying to show here. Can some one explain the arrows and the line connecting the stations.

That's the route taken by the luxury train, 'The Maharajah's Express'

An attendant welcomes a foreign tourist aboard Maharajas' Express at Kolkata on Saturday evening. Courtesey: The Hindu

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 22 Mar 2010 12:43

VikasRaina wrote:^^ What exactly is that the artist was trying to show here. Can some one explain the arrows and the line connecting the stations.

Its a DTP mistake, there are multiple layers. In Corel Draw, the Indian map is a layer and the route is another layer. What the wrong went is that the route map layer has been scaled up accidentally and no one has proofread it correctly or thing have been went wrong at computer to printer stage.

Actually someone should proofread for mistakes after printing out on trace-sheets, before sending them to printers, but somehow it went unnoticed.

Akshut · Post by **Akshut** » 24 Mar 2010 10:48

More of the Maharaja Express:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/386 ... 85126a.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/444 ... 2c4d18.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/444 ... 0fda3c.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/444 ... be1862.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/444 ... 508322.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/444 ... cced6f.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/444 ... 115f94.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/386 ... 4d9a33.jpg

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The cost of the 7 night Princely India and Celestial India tours starts from $6,400 per person in a Deluxe Cabin, increasing to $20,000 per person in the Presidential Suite. The 6 night Royal India and Classical India tours cost $5,600 per person in a Deluxe Cabin, increasing to $17,500 per person in a Presidential Suite.

Sriman · Post by **Sriman** » 28 Mar 2010 00:51

The new Rajdhani coaches look quite nice. Are they built by ICF?

manish · Post by **manish** » 28 Mar 2010 08:04

Sriman wrote:<<<removed video>>>

The new Rajdhani coaches look quite nice. Are they built by ICF?

I think these rakes use the Alstom LHB coaches and I think the ones on the TFTA Mumbai Rajdhani (and August Kranti) are made by RCF Kapurthala. Most of the SDRE Rajdhanis still seem to be running older rolling stock. I have also seen these new rakes on many Shatabdi routes as well. They are speed rated at 160kmph as opposed to 130kmph on the regular Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Garib Rath type coaches that IR uses otherwise. There are a few other changes (welcome ones I might add) in the design of toilets, roof linings (moulded type) and general ergonomics. Apparently they are longer and lighter than the standard IR rolling stock as well.

Of course, at this point perhaps I can sneak in one of my pet peeves with IR - a vast majority of coaches still top out at 110kmph, rendering any existing headroom for speed improvements (newer tracks/sections that are capable of higher speeds such as ones near Delhi or KR) irrelevant. It will probably take eons to replace the gadzillion coaches now in use.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 28 Mar 2010 08:10

the avg speed is still around 70-75 kmph, improved signaling can at least lift that to the 90's.

Sriman · Post by **Sriman** » 31 Mar 2010 10:08

Thanks Manish, a bit of digging around confirmed that they're LHB coaches.

chilarai · Post by **chilarai** » 01 Apr 2010 10:08

RCF rolled out country’s first Air Conditioned Double Decker Coach

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 02 Apr 2010 18:32

First look of India’s first Double Decker AC Railway Coach

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Apr 2010 09:18

Faulty planning derails Assam project

Improper planning and failure to visualise soil strata behaviour on the part of the railway administration have resulted in an unproductive expenditure of Rs. 890.18 crore on a diverted alignment in the hill section of the ongoing Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Badarpur-Kumarghat gauge conversion project (368.46 km) of the Northeast Frontier Railway in Assam.

The gauge conversion project mainly includes land acquisition, earthwork, construction of formation, 358 bridges, a road overbridge, a road underbridge, tunnels, cut and cover, procurement and spread of ballast, and track linking.

Arunkumar · Post by **Arunkumar** » 09 Apr 2010 18:54

Rail link from Manipur to Vietnam planned.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 778641.cms

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Apr 2010 06:25

150 years of Railway operations in Kerala

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 12 Apr 2010 07:39

RCF Kapurthala needs to get its act together and in a Major way. The quality of the coaches it builds sucks big time.

For a first time look, the coaches might seem just fine, but one has to compare the finish given by the original videshi manufacturer with the finish given by RCF.

If on travels by the Lucknow Shatabdi one will see this glaring difference. Some of the coaches have excellent finish with switches and plugs intact, door and panels fit exactly. On occasion an adjacent bogie will have switches coming off, panels and lines misaligned, bathroom doors not closing shut properly with gaps visible etc - sure enough I was able to spot the RCF Kapurthala billet on one such coach.

I am sure that this sarkari contractor is charging well above what a private contractor will charge for doing the interiors of these coaches. Now if this interiors thing is privatized and an independent inspector does the final QC we will see major improvements and new ideas to improve passenger amenities. But for this to happen in as archaic an organization as IR is well...

Added later: I just hope the issue I raise is only skin deep and limited to the aesthetics of the coaches! That quality control is not an issue in the actual manufacture of the coach body.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 12 Apr 2010 09:45

SSridhar wrote:150 years of Railway operations in Kerala

The railway lines touching the towns of Tirur, Thanur from Shornur also played an important role in the quelling of the Mopilah riots of 1921. Malabar Dt. administration was finding the situation tough and Army had to be called into assist them. The troops were brought in by special trains from Bangalore, and smal contingents of it were dropped at Olavakkode Jn which was also kind of an armoury/arms dump for the British. The rest of the units then slowly moved forward from Palakkad to Shornur, and then to Tirunavaya, Tirur etc.

The "Wagon Tragedy" in which the arrested Mopilah trouble makers were put in a goods carriage and taken from Tirur to Pothanur prison (near Coimbatore) also happened in this line. At Pothanur the jail authorities informed the guards that the prison was full, and the train was sent back. Around 50-60 people in the goods carriage died because of suffocation.

Raja Bose · Post by **Raja Bose** » 12 Apr 2010 12:25

A question slightly OT: Do any jingos here indulge in railroad modeling?

jambudvipa · Post by **jambudvipa** » 12 Apr 2010 18:09

Boseji ,

I do indulge in model railroading in HO scale.are you a model railroader as well?