Beauty of Nature with Railway

Saturday: 5th September 2020 at 1.11 PM Twitter 
 A bird's eye view of along the Chilka Lake 

Social Media: 5th September 2020: (The Rail Screen):: 
A bird's eye view of an Express train winding its way beautifully along the Chilka Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world.

100% Electrification of Broad Gauge Routes of Indian Railways

Posted On: 12th September 2018 at 4:09 PM by PIB Delhi

*CCEA has approved electrification of remaining unelectrified broad gauge (BG) routes of Indian Railways

*Upon completion of electrification of the proposed routes, Indian Railways broad gauge network will be 100% operational on electric traction

*Significant benefits in the areas of Safety, Capacity, Speed, Energy Security & Sustainability

*Proposed electrification is mainly for missing links and last mile connectivity and will increase the operational efficiency, enhance the line capacity and improve the average speed of trains

*Post electrification, Indian Railways is likely to save Rs 13,510 crore per annum in fuel bill

*Will generate direct employment of about 20.4 crore man days during the period of construction.

New Delhi: 12th September 2022: (PIB//The Rail Screen)::

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for electrification of balance un-electrified BG routes of Indian Railways (IR) comprising of 108 sections covering 13,675 route kilometers (16,540 track kilometers) at a cost of Rs.12,134.50 crore. This electrification is likely to be completed by 2021-22.

The major trunk routes on IR network have already been electrified and are operational. Considering the requirement for seamless operation of rail traffic across the network, it is necessary that the bottlenecks created by the need to change traction are done away with. The proposed electrification, which is mainly for missing links and last mile connectivity will increase the operational efficiency, enhance the line capacity and improve the average speed of trains.

The approved electrification will reduce the use of imported fossil fuels thereby improve energy security to the Nation. After the planned electrification, there would be reduction in the consumption of high speed diesel oil by about 2.83 billion litres per annum and a reduction in GHG emissions. This will also reduce environmental impact of Railways.

Currently, around two thirds of freight and more than half of passenger traffic in Indian Railways moves on electric traction. However, electric traction accounts for just 37% of the total energy expenses of Indian Railways. Due to this advantage, post electrification, Indian Railways is likely to save Rs 13,510 crore per annum in fuel bill and the same will improve its finances.

The approved electrification will generate direct employment of about 20.4 crore man days during the period of construction.

The benefits from this decision are listed below:

Capacity & Speed

100% electrification will provide seamless train operation by eliminating detention of trains due to change in traction from diesel to electric and vice versa.

It will help Railways in enhancing line capacity due to higher speed & higher haulage capacity of electric locomotives

Safety

Improved signalling system will lead to enhanced safety in train operation

Energy Security

In line with the new Auto Fuel Policy of the Government, total shift to electric traction will reduce fossil fuel consumption of about 2.83 billion liters per annum

Reduced dependence on imported petroleum based fuels will ensure energy security to the nation

Energy bill savings

Overall savings in fuel bill to the extent of Rs. 13,510 cr per annum. Electrification of sections covered under this decision will result in net savings of Rs. 3,793 cr per annum

Reduced expenditure on maintenance of locomotive as electric locomotive  maintenance cost is Rs. 16.45 per thousand GTKM compared to diesel locomotive  maintenance cost which is Rs. 32.84 per thousand GTKM

Regeneration facility of electric locomotives will save 15-20% energy

Reduced overall requirement of electric loco due to higher horse power

Sustainability

Reduced carbon footprint as environmental cost per Tonne Km for Electric Traction is 1.5 Paisa and for Diesel Traction 5.1 paisa

In line with commitment made by India in COP21, total shift to electric traction will reduce CO2 emission of Railways by 24% till 2027-28

Green house gas emission for electric traction will fall below diesel traction by 2019-20 making it environmentally friendly option.

Employment Generation

Direct employment during construction phase for about 20.4 crore Man days.

 The complete electrification of railway is poised to continue the growth story of Indian Railways. Through the aforementioned benefits, complete electrification will act as a catalyst for the modernisation process and deliver greater economic benefits. It will help Indian Railways become the growth engine of India as envisaged by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

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AKT/SH                       (रिलीज़ आईडी: 1545763) 

Media Group visit to National Rail Museum

Shri Ashwani Lohani interacting with the media

The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Ashwani Lohani interacting with the media persons on the occasion of the Media Group visit to National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, in New Delhi on April 05, 2018. (Photo and details by PIB)

Indian Railway Catering Scam in Pantry Cars

Ret'd IAS Shivendra K. Sinha exposed the fraud in Rail

From Social Media: 16 Feb 2017:: (Rail Screen Bureau):

Last week i was travelling from Visakhapatnam to Howrah in Yesvantpur-Howrah Express. Ordered Veg. meal from the pantry car, as per waiter it was Rs.90/- only.

I have always in mind that these people are charging very high for the meals but never took it seriously. But this time i determined to enquire about it.

Googled about the rate card and menu, found this website,

IRCTC Help: IRCTC Latest Food Menu Rates

I was shocked when I saw the rates -

Veg meals which pantry car person was selling at Rs 90 was priced only Rs 50/-

Non-Veg meals pantry car rate was priced Rs 100 is only Rs 55/-

Two more options are also available as Standard Thali Meals- Veg and Non-Veg atRs 35 and Rs 40.

After meals , I handed over Rs 50 to the waiter, but he was demanding 90.

I asked him about the RATE CARD, he refused to have any such thing.

Shown him the above website and rates, he was like Rs. 50 will be ok but DON’T TELL ANYONE.

I was so furious, travelled all the way from 13th coach to 1st coach to the pantry car.

And on my way, informed co-passengers who were taking the meals from pantry about this scam.

Met the Pantry-In-charge. Enquired about this. he was also telling the same story, rate cards are missing right now but will shortly get the new one.

About the Jacked price of meal he was mum. Lodge a complaint in his Complaint register , which he handed over to me after half an hour.

Initially he was pleading not to write the complaint but after writing the complaint, he was like nobody will see this , it will go into dustbin that’s it.

To my surprise, against my complaint (he is obliged to give reason in writing - triplet complaint copies - one has to handed over to customer) he wrote “taken only Rs 50 from customer Bill No XXX and this customer writes complaint every time he travels. “

The same situation is in almost every train, pantry car meals price are jacked up as no one question them, no one ask about the rate card.

As per one of the estimate, every day around 25 million passenger travel from Indian Railways , if only 0.5% of these passengers takes either lunch or dinner from pantry cars , even extra rupees 30 on each plate will make these people rich by Rs 37,500,000.

Calculate for yourself for 100% passengers complaining.

Or just multiply Rs 37,500,000 by 200 and again by 365...

ENORMOUS!

Please do insist for Bill every time you ordered any food from a Railway pantry car.

Please do try to forward this to all, as so many depend on Rail travel & can't afford Air travel.

Indian Railways need to launch “Zero Accident Mission”Shri

29-August-2015 12:27 IST

Suresh Prabhu in the Railway Convention

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu addressing at the inauguration of the Railway Convention on “Advances in Command Control & Communication Systems for Main Line, Metro & High Speed Transit Systems”, organised by the Institution of Railway Signal and Telecommunication Engineers (IRSTE), (India) and Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE), (Indian Section), in New Delhi on August 29, 2015.

New Delhi: 29 August 2015: (PIB):

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu addresses valedictory session of International Railway Convention on “Advances in Command, Control and Communication Systems for Main Line, Metro and High Speed Transit Systems” 

Two day International Railway Convention on “Advances in Command, Control and Communication Systems for Main Line, Metro and High Speed Transit Systems” concluded today. Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu addressed the valedictory session. It was organized by Institution of Railway Signal and Telecommunication Engineers (IRSTE), (India) and Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE), (Indian Section) in association with Indian Railways. 

The conference was yesterday opened by a keynote speech by the Chairman of the Railway Board, Shri A.K.Mittal and Member Electrical Shri Naveen Tandon. The event was also attended by Addl. Member (Signal), Shri S. Manohar, Addl. Member Telecom, Shri K.S.Krishna Kumar, Hon. Secretary IRSTE & CAO/IRPMU Shri Kundan Choudhary and other dignitaries. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that main thrust of any transport organisation should be on safe and secure transportation with zero scope of accidents. Indian Railways need to launch “Zero Accident Mission”. This requires integrated approach involving use of cost effective advanced technology and properly trained manpower. He further said that new advances in command, control and communication system can play a very vital role in evolving safe and secure operation environment on Indian Railways where there should be no scope of accidents even in case of human errors. 

Hon’ble Minister laid emphasis on development of suitable technology to control accidents at unmanned level crossings by providing suitable indications about approaching trains and any obstruction on track. He pointed out that in such conferences we should focus on Global Bench marks and assess our standing as compared to Global standards. We should try to develop indigenous cost effective system having global standards suitable for Indian Railways. He requested to foreign delegates and companies to come, collaborate and manufacture in India. India has advantage of skilled man power, big market and large manufacturing base. In addition to internal consumptions such manufacturing hubs should have export potential. 

At the end Hon’ble Minister said that Indian Railways “Zero Accident Mission” should have a definite time frame 

Railway Signalling & Telecommunication Engineering comprises of a whole range of technologies to provide cost effective solutions in enhancing Safety and Line Capacity as well as disseminating train running information to passengers so as to make their journey safe, comfortable and convenient. Indian Railways under the modernization plan for Signaling and Telecom assets have adopted modern S&T solutions like Centralized Operation of Signalling system, Electronic Interlocking, LED signals, Block Proving by Axle Counters. Throughput enhancement has been achieved by providing Automatic Block Signalling and IBS (Intermediate Block Signalling) on high density routes. To prevent the incidences of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) and Over-speeding, Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) based on based on European Train Control System (ETCS L-1) has been successfully implemented as Pilot projects on select corridors and further implementation on suburban sections with dense traffic movement has been planned. Indian Railways is also in the process of indigenously developing Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) as a cost effective solution for automatic train protection. 

The Conference gave the opportunity to the participants, Signalling and Telecommunication professionals as well as representatives from the industrial and research sectors, such as Efftronics, RTVision, Railel, Huawei, TechnoSatComm, Siemens, Thales, Hitachi, Frauscher, EMC etc from various countries to benefit from an open, relevant and comprehensive information exchange on the state-of-the-art, technologies, needs and requirements, as well as the vision of future systems. 

The two days of the Convention, led by around 20 renowned speakers debated subjects such as: 

• Signalling Trends on Main Line and Metros- Opportunities for Make in India 

• Modern Control, Command and Communication technologies for Main Line, Metro and High Speed Systems 

• Advance Automatic Train Protection technologies like ETCS, CBTC 

• High Availability Systems and Smart Signalling Systems 

• Centralized Traffic Control System on Indian Railways 

• Challenges in adoption of Electronic Interlocking in Indian Railways and their possible solutions 

• Train Management System on Indian Railway 

• Signalling on Kolkata Metro 

• Modern Railway Communication and Ensuring Safety in Communication 

• Empowering through Knowledge and Skill Development 

The conclusions and outputs during the Convention provided the Railway Train Control, Command and Communication domains with a clear vision on the challenges ahead to meet the need for enhanced Safety, Reliability and Line Capacity, the technologies available world-wide and the need for empowerment through knowledge and skill development. 

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AKS/MKV/MN

Railways Year Book

Released at a function in New Delhi 

The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Arunendra Kumar releasing the “Railways Year Book”, at a function, in New Delhi on August 24, 2013.  (PIB)

Golden Jubilee Celebrations

The Chief Guest, Smt. Madhu Bansal lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations and the Annual Women’s Day Award Function of Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation (RWWCO), in New Delhi on April 05, 2013. The President, RWWCO, Smt. Poonam Mittal is also seen. (PIB)