The Hindu Business Line : Rlys focuses on plans to increase throughput

IN order to improve the throughput by increasing the wagon usage in coal and mineral sectors, the Railways is betting big on running trains continuously for increasingly longer distances. It now plans to conduct test runs for freight trains for over 6,000 km at a stretch in certain pre-determined sections.

The Railways is doing so by running more closed circuit rakes, which are freight trains that run continuously in dedicated operations on pre-determined closed loop journey.

Simultaneously, to ensure that the rakes do not suffer due to travelling increased distances, it will be assigning the ownership and maintenance of these wagons to specific base stations.

Generally, freight trains are examined between every loading/unloading irrespective of the distance travelled.

"This results in rakes being detained for 10-12 hours before they are used again," said an official.

With closed loop journeys, there is a significant reduction in terminal detentions.

The Railways has been increasing the distance for which closed circuit rakes (with open box wagons) are run in a phased manner.

Earlier, it used to run closed circuit rakes for 2,500 km before they were examined. Then it started running rakes for 4,500 km and now runs them for 6,000 km before they are examined.

"Of course, the rakes being run over longer distances are upgraded technologically and are provided improved maintenance services," officials said, adding that the Railways plans to raise the bar by conducting trials for over distances over 6,000 km.

At the same time, to ensure that wagons are maintained well, the Railways has been assigning wagons to nominated base stations.

"The wagons are owned by specific base stations. They are responsible for the maintenance of these wagons," said an official, adding that this instils a sense of ownership in the base stations for the wagons.

The wagons are assigned after they are back from their periodic overhaul (POH) and routine overhaul (ROH).

"After the POH or ROH, designated wagons are sent to the `owner base stations' straight from the manufacturer."

Moreover, having improved the wagon design and track infrastructure, the Railways also plans to experiment with increased axle loads to allow wagons to carry larger volumes of freight.

"We plan to experiment with 24.9-tonne axle load as well on iron ore routes," officials said.

As of now, the Railways allows 22.9-tonne axle load on select routes. It also wants to increase the routes where this axle load weight can be carried.

More Stories on : Railways | Coal | Minerals

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