Indian Railways to operate seventy five Train-18 by 2023
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and inspected Vande Bharat trains. After examining, he handed over the trains to Railway’s R&D division, the Lucknow-based Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO). The RDSO will now inspect the trains. After due scrutiny the new train sets shall get safety clearance for operations and run on track.The Indian Railways hopes to operate 75 brand-new Vande Bharat trains by 15th August next year. In order to achieve the railway’s goal of having seven to eight trains available each month the construction of these trains has been expedited. However, looking at the pace it appears that the rolling of the trains may be delayed. IANS made unsuccessful attempts to contact Railway officials and the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai over the project’s apparent delay.Every new Vande Bharat train has some new technology and upgrades, according to Indian Railways, which gradually raises the cost as well. A 16-coach Vande Bharat train’s building cost has increased from its initial estimate of 106 crores to between Rs 110 and Rs 120 crore. The ICF intends to manufacture about 10 trains every month. The Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala and the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli will also begin manufacturing the coaches to reach the goal of 400 Vande Bharat trains in next three years.It was decided to create Vande Bharat along the lines of Make in India, but despite spending millions of dollars, Vande Bharat has not yet garnered the momentum that was anticipated. It is claimed that the tendering process is halted frequently.
Feasibility report of MRTS Madurai is complete
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The proposed feasibility report which suggests an appropriate mass rapid transit system (MRTS) for Madurai has been completed and submitted to Chennai Metro Rail. The Tamil Nadu government will now soon receive the final detailed feasibility report.Balaji Rail Road Systems (BARSYL) was given the assignment by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) early this year and the consultant just finished the draft report, CMRL officials stated.“We are examining the report. After making all the changes the consultant will incorporate them into the final report. Subsequently, we will hold discussions with the stakeholders and submit it to the state government,” an official said.This report will include lots of details, including the alignment, the geographic areas the system will serve, the project’s cost and the best kind of transportation system for the city. After the DFR, a detailed project report (DPR) will need to be created which will include information on the design, the kind of stations to be used, the cost breakdown, the time needed to complete the project and the projected passenger traffic.The centre once suggested MetroLite or MetroNeo for Tier II and Tier III cities. These two networks will be more affordable and smaller than the conventional metro rail systems.The alignment between Othakadai and Tirumangalam is among those investigated.A feasibility study will be carried out for a number of cities including Salem, Tiruchi and Tirunelveli in addition to Madurai.
HYT ENGINEERING now present at InnoTrans Hall 22A – Stand 650 to showcase their offerings
BERLIN, GERMANY (Metro Rail News): HYT ENGINEERING COMPANY PVT. LTD. is now present at InnoTrans – industry’s leading international trade fair in Berlin, Germany. Visit them at Hall 22A – Stand 650.The representatives from HYT Engineering Mr. Bhojraj Teli- Managing Director, Ms Rajashri Teli – Joint Managing Director, Mr Hrishikesh Darunkar – General Manager-Business Development, Mr Arvind Jagtap – Manager- Export(Technical) present at the InnoTrans international trade fair at Hall 22A – Stand 650.HYT product Range at the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology are CNC Tandem Underfloor Wheel Lathe, CNC Underfloor Wheel Lathe, CNC Surface (above floor) Wheel Lathe, CNC Portal Wheel Lathe, CNC Vertical Turning & Boring Machine, CNC Axle Journal Turning and Burnishing Lathe, Multipurpose Armature machine, Rail Based Loco Shunter and Wheel Press.HYT has successfully completed major turnkey projects which include the Creation of POH facilities for augmentation of periodical overhauling facilities for LHB coaches at Carriage Repair Shop at Tirupati in South Central Railway, Developing Infrastructure for POH of Wheel Set for LHB Coaches at Carriage Repair Workshop in Harnaut, Coach Shell Manufacturing Facility for Indian Railways at Chennai in India, Wheel Repair Shop for Smh Rail in Malaysia, Setting up of Coiled Spring Manufacturing facility (On Turnkey Basis) at ICF in Chennai, Fully Automatic Wheel and Axle Assembly Complex at Railway Wheel Factory (RWF) at Bengaluru in India, Wheels And Bogie Overhauling Facility at Sanpada Emu Car Shed, Mumbai in India, Augmentation of Wheel Shop at Matunga in Central Railway, Augmentation of BG Coach POH Facility From 50 Coaches To 100 Coaches Per Month at Bhavnagar Workshop in Western Railway, Modernization & Augmentation of POH Capacity to 150 Wagons Per Month at Dahod Workshop in Western Railway.HYT is a firm believer in offering complete solutions, from designing to manufacturing to after-sale maintenance. They are a dominant player in providing rolling stock maintenance services and the execution of infrastructure projects on a turnkey basis. They have their distinctive approach to planning and fast execution with the most cost-effective solution.Recently, HYT received an export order for setting up a wheel shop from Gabon, Central Africa.HYT ENGINEERING COMPANY PVT. LTD. was founded in 1977 and produces SPMs for rolling stock repair having 99% market dominance in Indian railways.
Additionally, HYT works on turnkey railroad infrastructure projects like automatic wheel shops.Under the direction of Managing Director Mr. Bhojraj Teli, HYT is renowned for its innovative design and customer-focused approach.With 850 employees and a factory in Pune, India, HYT has provided more than 900 machines, including CNC wheel lathes, to the railway, metro, PSUs and private sector.Contact them:HYT ENGINEERING COMPANY PVT. LTD.E-mail: Info@hytengineering.comWebsite: www.hytengineering.comContact: +91 20 66343900 / 06
Northeast receives support for Multimodal Connectivity
ASSAM (Metro Rail News): The north east region has received support from central government for multimodal connectivity.
Railway’s Riverfront Passenger Jetty was inaugurated at Bogibeel Road-cum-Railway Bridge on the 19th of September. This will create new chances by making use of the Brahmaputra River’s potential.The longest river cruise service in the nation will be launched in Assam in 2023. It will be operational between Bogibeel and Varanasi. It will travel a distance of more than 4,000 kilometers. The route will link the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBRP).The service will open for the residents of both states to use inland waterways to advance their commerce, tourism and cargo transportation. The Indian government is also looking for ways to increase inland navigation and river cruise tourism across the Brahmaputra river.India is taking a significant step toward the integrated connection between its railways and waterways with the plans to create a river site next to the Bogibeel Bridge. It is being carried out as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission “Gati Shakti.” The riverfront facility has enormous potential to develop into a major tourist attraction in the country’s northeast.Multimodal Connectivity in Northeast!
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 19, 2022
Railways' Riverfront Passenger Jetty was inaugurated today at Bogibeel Road cum Railway Bridge. This will open new doors of opportunities by utilising the potential of the mighty Brahmaputra River. pic.twitter.com/jpXhR2TMuc
BMRCL floats tender to run 318 driverless metro cars
BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has floated a tender in order to run 318 metro cars on various lines under the Phase 2, 2A and Phase 2B lines. The BMRCL has also implemented a clause of maintenance for the first time. The manufacturer is responsible for maintaining the coaches for a period of 15 years.Anjum Parwez, MD, BMRCL stated that a clause on the maintenance of coaches will help the corporation to save its resources. “We have taken a cue from the Delhi Metro. Currently, a lot of resources are being spent on maintenance of the coaches that include periodical repair works, spare parts and others. To save money in the long run other metros too have started imposing this condition while procuring coaches.”“These can be operated without drivers. The advanced signalling systems help to reduce the headway by 2 minutes. At present, we are running trains for not less than five minutes. The train will have advanced systems that also check the health of the track and obstructions. For the trains that will be operated to the airport during the design stage, we will plan on providing luggage space for the air passengers and other amenities,” MD stated.The official stated that BMRCL has the required number of coaches to commission train operations on the extended metro line from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield. The BMRCL has 50 train sets of 6 cars each. According to the plan, 96 coaches will be used for services on the 14 km underground stretch on Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara route from Dairy Circle and Nagawara.The remaining 222 coaches will be utilised for the ORR – Airport route which will travel from Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport via K.R. Puram, Nagawara and Hebbal.The corridor has a total length of 55 kilometres.The corridors of these lines are under construction and it is anticipated to be operational by 2024–2025.Currently, the BMRCL has a set of six metro cars each.
K-Rail continues with efforts for foreign funding
KOTTAYAM (Metro Rail News): Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (K-Rail) stated that there is still a chance to receive foreign funding for its flagship SilverLine Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor project. Four organizations including the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) have submitted requests for overseas loans to the respective central ministry. If the railway board presents a favourable report for the projects then only the ministry will grant the proposals.The central ministry advised K-Rail in response to the RTI request that the SilverLine project had been removed from the list of projects eligible for funding from JICA.JICA could not be approached as the exclusive foreign finance source for the SilverLine project as stated by K-Rail. According to the agency’s instructions the request for an overseas loan was withdrawn in 2018. K-Rail has requested financial assistance from ADB, AIIB and KFW along with JICA because JICA had promised that the money could be realised with the help of a few more organisations. A new request was made in April 2021, which also includes JICA.An application should be submitted to the central ministry for approval in order to secure overseas loans. The ministry will review the project’s specifics and reports before approving it. The report has to be made by the railway board in the case of SilverLine project.
BMRCL floats tender for construction of Metro Airport Depot
BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) floated a bid for the civil construction of the Airport Depot for the Bangalore Metro Blue Line. The city’s new 57 km Blue Line which will connect Central Silk Board – KR Puram – Bangaluru International Airport with Phase 2A (ORR Line) will use a small train maintenance facility in Phase 2B (Airport Line).The depot is also known as Shettigere Depot or Doddajala Depot. A preliminary notice for acquiring an additional area of 12,576.619 sq m has been sent to the government for approval. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance this tender which approved loan amount of USD 500 million (about Rs 3680 crore) in December 2020.The estimated Cost of the Tender is Rs. 204.68 crores.The deadline / Period of Work is 548 Days.Pre-bid Meeting will be held on 30 September 2022 at 11:30 AMBid Submission will start on 21 October 2022Bid Submission will end on 29 October 2022Technical Bid will start on 31 October 2022Construction of Airport Depot for Bangalore Metro Rail Project-Phase-2B is the work included in the bid.The Purple Line’s operational Baiyappanahalli Depot which will eventually be converted to service the Blue Line will also support operations on the Blue Line. In August, bids were opened for its reconstruction or remodeling. Back in September 2021, the Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) contract worth Rs. 3.94 crores for both depots were given to the joint venture between PADECO Co. Ltd. and Ardanuy India Pvt Ltd.As part of a 318-coach contract financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) both depots will house 222 new coaches (37 x 6).
RRTS : Installation of PSD starts in priority section
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The work of installation of the Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at RRTS stations on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor has been started. It has been started from Guldhar RRTS station of the priority section. In this process, various parts of platform screen doors such as automatic sliding doors, fixed door panels, platform end gates, emergency escape doors and fixed screens are being installed on the platform.NCRTC has given utmost importance to the safety of passengers since its inception. The installation of platform screen doors is another such step in this direction. Platform screen doors will be integrated with RRTS train doors and the ETCS Level-2 signalling system resulting in train doors opening and closing simultaneously with platform screen doors. For the safety of the passengers, the train will run only when the doors of the train and platform screen doors are closed.
NCRTC is implementing the Hybrid Level 3 Technology of the European Train Control System (ETCS Level-2) for the operation of RRTS trains which is one of the most advanced signalling and train control systems in the world. Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio-based signalling system will be the first of its kind facilitating the latest digital interlocking with Automatic Train Operations (ATO). This will enable higher frequency of the train services, better headway and more throughput.The platform screen doors will act as a barrier between the train and the tracks for the safety of the passengers, thereby ensuring better crowd management at the stations as well as avoiding any untoward incidents such as passengers falling on the tracks. This will not only help in preventing unforeseen incidents but will also reduce the risk of accidents.The process of installing platform screen doors for the remaining stations of the priority section has also started. It will pick up the pace with the completion of the roof sheds of the stations. The work of installation of Platform Screen Doors on RRTS corridor is being done by M/s Alstom.The trains that will run on the RRTS corridor will primarily consist of 6 coaches, comprising 5 standard and one premium class coach. Each standard class coach will have 3 doors on one side and the premium class coach will have 2 doors. Accordingly, there will be a total of 17 doors on the entire train. Based on this, a total of 17 platform screen doors will be installed on each platform of the RRTS stations.NCRTC is also taking various other measures to ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers. Separate coaches for women, CCTV monitoring at stations and trains, pre-determined space for wheelchairs and stretchers in the trains besides larger lifts to move stretchers at stations are some of the important measures.RRTS was conceptualized to facilitate safe, reliable and fast travel in the National Capital Region and NCRTC is taking all possible measures to ensure the same. Some of the important reasons behind the implementation of this project are to decongest the national capital, reduce vehicular traffic and air pollution and ensure balanced regional development. NCRTC is using state-of-the-art technologies to ensure the safe and timely completion of works while minimizing inconvenience to commuters, business owners and residents of the region.Installation of Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at #RRTS stations on Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor has started from #Guldhar RRTS station of Priority Section. #ncrtc #gatishakti #MakeInIndia #AtmanirbharBharat #NewIndia #TransformingIndia pic.twitter.com/OPh2g1nW6V
— National Capital Region Transport Corporation Ltd. (@officialncrtc) September 19, 2022
BMRCL to revamp its project management system
BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to update both its In-house Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and Project Management System (PMS) in order to follow its projects continuously. Bids for the same project will be floated soon.T.V Mohandas Pai, the chairman of Manipal Global Education criticized the delay in finishing the Bangaluru Metro projects last month and blamed it on improper project management. “The City was lagging behind by 10 years in the progress it should have made in its Metro Rail projects. PMS is desperately needed as it is a project with Rs 50,000 cr investment,” he added. Metro projects have also received a lot of flak for often missing deadlines for both completed and ongoing projects.General Manager (GM), Information Technology, BMRCL, Divya Hosur stated that, “We have PMS in place now only during the execution stage of a project. We will be expanding our system to the pre-planning as well as planning stages henceforth. A separate dashboard will be launched which will have continuous updates along with timelines on every project,” she said. The expenditure for all projects would also be tracked fastidiously. “This would definitely bring in much improvement in completion of our projects,” the GM added.In addition, BMRCL will redesign its internal ERP to make it more durable and dynamic. It will cover every organization-related topic such as human resources management, financial management and information management which will improve departmental collaboration. Additionally, it would enable the administration to utilize its inventory and rolling stock more effectively.Hosur continued, “Grading of vendors working on various projects will also be monitored using a Vendor Management System which would help in optimizing the procurement processes and better decision making with easily available real-time data.
Kineco bags the contract for Interior work of Train-18
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Indo-National Ltd. subsidiary Kineco Ltd won a contract for 113-crore order for Interior work of Vande Bharat Semi-High Speed trains being manufactured at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai.According to a regulatory filing from its parent company, Kineco also received the largest order consisting of 68 train fronts for the Vande Bharat trains. Kineco is one of the top manufacturers of composite technology for the railways and the military. Additionally, it also manufactures fiber-reinforced plastic pressure containers for water filtration and chemical processing plants.Shekhar Sardessai, the founder and managing director of Kineco, claimed that the company has long been at the forefront of the modernization programme of the Indian Railways. Rail coach interiors, bathroom modules, aerodynamic front ends, driver cab interiors, and hard seating systems are among the products offered by the Railways.
DMRC to upgrade Metro’s Telecom Infrastructure
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi residents depend on the metro for many aspects of their everyday lives, yet issues like call dropouts and poor mobile connectivity follow them inside the metro. However, commuters may soon experience some respite as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is working to find a solution. DMRC has chosen 20 locations along elevated parts of various routes for the installation of mobile towers in an effort to increase mobile coverage across its network. The metro agency is already modernizing the telecoms infrastructure at 29 underground stations.The DMRC has reportedly asked for ideas for leasing out space for the construction of telecom towers near locations like the metro stations at Kashmere Gate, Tis Hazari and RK Ashram. The other metro stations are the Supreme Court Metro Station, Kalkaji Mandir, Dilshad Garden, Dashrath Puri, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Jamia Millia Islamia, Dwarka Sector 13, Dhansa Bus Stand, Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh) and Sant Surdas (Sihi) metro stations.The company will also erect mobile towers at the train depots in Shastri Park, Kalindi Kunj, Najafgarh, Badli and two locations inside Yamuna Bank Depot. The majority of the spots which average 8 square meters are either at parking lots or entry gates with the exception of supplementary structures. While this is going on the metro agency is acquiring space for “in-building solutions” to provide cellular coverage at 29 underground stations along three separate corridors.To improve connectivity at the Red Line (Rithala-Shaheed Sthal New Bus Adda) station, which is also connected to DMRC’s busiest corridor, the Yellow Line (Samaypur Badli-HUDA City Centre) a mobile tower will be installed at Kashmere Gate, the network’s only interchange point bridging three corridors. The Blue Line stations of Barakhamba Road, Mandi House and Dwarka Sector 21 (Dwarka Vaishali/Noida Electronic City) as well as the Violet Line stations of Mandi House, Janpath, Central Secretariat, Khan Market, JLN Stadium and Jangpura (Kashmere Gate-Raja Nahar Singh, Ballabhgarh) are also undergoing cellular network upgrade work.The underground sections of these corridors are being modernized in collaboration with the government-owned engineering and consulting company Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL).
Wabtec to manufacture PSD for Panama Metro
CENTRAL AMERICA (Metro Rail News): Wabtec Corporation has made its first entry into the Central American railway sector with an order for platform screen doors for the Panama Metro. The global conglomerate is also one of the major suppliers of railroad equipments for a number of metro and railway projects in India.The L3 monorail stations for Metro de Panama are being constructed by Hitachi Rail as part of the Grupo de Empresas Sunrise Monorail, and the order is for 300 half-height platform screen doors to be installed there.The order is a part of a project to construct a new 25 km long monorail line to be served by 28 six-car trains (168 cars), together with the related signaling, telecommunications and power systems. Wabtec will provide training and assistance for the platform screen doors’ installation, testing and commissioning in addition to providing the doors also.The platform screen doors increase security by serving as a physical barrier to stop individuals or items from trespassing or falling into tracks. Half-height screen doors are a great way to increase safety on technically challenging outdoor rail lines.Wabtec installed the first platform screen doors in the world in Hong Kong in 2002. Since then, the company has installed them in Sydney, Australia and metro lines in Paris, France, Brussels and Belgium. Most recently, the company was awarded a contract to supply platform screen doors for the Marseille metro as part of plans to modernize and automate its local transportation network.Lilian Leroux, Wabtec Transit President, stated that “As a pioneer in platform screen doors with multiple successful projects to our name, Wabtec is the natural choice for half-height gates for metro applications.” “Having worked with Wabtec on a successful project to install half-height platform screen doors on the Copenhagen Metro, Denmark, the team at Hitachi knew our proven capabilities in this area. We are proud to play a leading role in ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers on the Panama Metrolink, and in creating more reliable, secure and robust metro networks the world over.”Director of Signaling and Turnkey Procurement for Hitachi Rail‘s Americas Region, Chris Singer, stated, “The gates enable passengers to board and exit trains in an orderly and safe manner, thereby, reducing wait times and also contribute to making rail services more punctual and reliable.”
Karnataka rejects three Interstate Railroad projects by Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Metro Rail News): Kerala has suffered a significant setback after Karnataka rejected three of its proposed interstate railroad projects due to environmental concerns. Basavaraj Bommai, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, made this announcement after meeting with Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala on 18th September at the former’s official residence in Bengaluru.Nilambur-Nanjangud, Thalassery-Mysuru, and Kasaragod-Dakshin Kannada are the three railway projects that are not feasible. Since Kerala had not yet shared the technical information on extending the project up to Managaluru, the discussion of the Silverline Semi-High Speed Rail Project was avoided. Pinarayi remained silent over the outcome of the talks, but Bommai told reporters that the projects by the Kerala Government suggested were not feasible.However, according to information from the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office, the discussion covered a number of issues of concern to both States. It has been determined that both states would discuss the need for NH 766 to have an alternative path during the night while the National Highway Authority of India is preparing for the Mysore-Malappuram economic corridor. The alignment between Tholpetti and Purakkaattiri as well as between Sulthan Bathery and Malappuram will be jointly demanded by the two states.According to Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka would review the proposed Kanhangad – Panathur – Kaniyoor Railway Line project, which connects with the Northern and Southern regions of Kerala, and will also consider a policy decision to provide financial aid.The meeting was attended by V Somanna the minister for the Karnataka Housing and Infrastructure department as well as the chief secretaries for Karnataka and Kerala, V P Joy and Vandita Sharma respectively and Sharada Muraleedharan the secretary for local self-development in Kerala.
India’s first Hydrogen Power Train to be ready by 2023
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Ashwini Vaishnaw the Union Minister for Railways stated that India is developing hydrogen-powered trains, and they will be ready by 2023. The numbers of advantages come with the use of hydrogen and in particular, green hydrogen as a rail fuel, including supporting zero carbon goals as a clean energy source.
Only Germany has so far created hydrogen-powered trains. Germany introduced the first fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains this year. At a cost of about $92 million, the French company Alstom developed 14 trains with hydrogen fuel cell drive.
India received its first indigenously made hydrogen fuel cell bus last month, which was developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune.
The Vaishnaw also stated that work on the Gati Shakti terminals policy is moving quickly and Indian Railways is attempting to connect the remote and unconnected areas of the nation with the railway network.
The Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train that is among the fastest, was developed domestically in India using in-house technology and the train has been running smoothly without any major breakdown for the last years,” the minister said, adding that more such Vande Bharat Express trains are being manufactured at ICF and will be put into service. The train has been operating smoothly for the past two years without experiencing any major breakdowns. Recently, the Railway Safety Commissioner gave the green signal for Vande Bharat.
When discussing train and track management earlier, the minister had said, “In order to operate semi-high- or high-speed trains, we are also making significant progress on a track management system. In a Vande Bharat test run, we’ve already demonstrated that a fully loaded water glass didn’t shake at 180 kph, but it did shake the entire world.”
Vaishnaw also stated that after the successful completion of Vande Bharat’s trial run, the serial production of the remaining 72 trains will soon begin.
“It is noteworthy that the third Vande Bharat train can travel at a top speed of 180 km/h. It took 52 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour as opposed to the bullet train’s 55 seconds. Vande Bharat trains of the first generation have a top speed of 160 kmph and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 54.6 seconds ” he added.