All of us have seen double-decker passenger trains, at least in pictures. However, Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (Prayagraj) has made possible that a double-stack electric goods train can now ply on railway tracks. Major hurdle in running such goods train was insufficient clearance available with overhead electric wires. However, CORE unit of Ahmedabad the unique distinction of introducing and opening for freight traffic, the 25 KV AC Electric traction with High Rise OHE having contact wire height of 7.57 meters, which is a first of its kind in Indian Railways and a world record. The feat was achieved by the team of railway electrification, Ahmedabad unit under Central Organisation for Railway Electrification. The High Rise OHE route was opened for Freight traffic after a mandatory and intense safety Inspections by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Circle.
Further, for the first time, the hauling of (DSC) double stack container with electric traction was successfully introduced between Palanpur and Botad in Gujarat involving 270 kilometers. The electrification with High Rise OHE and subsequent hauling of double stack container by electric traction will boost the Green India initiative over Indian Railway.
The maiden operational run of Double Stack Container with Electric Traction was introduced on June 10 from Palanpur to Botad via Mahesana, Viramgam & Surendranagar. YP Singh; General Manger of Central Organisation for Railway Electrification, has expressed his pleasure on this historical milestone despite the tough challenges and congratulated entire team of Railway Electrification, Ahmedabad Unit consisting of Railways officials pertaining to Technical and Non-Technical both.
Conventional over head equipment (OHE) was designed for Electric Traction hauling with contact wire height of 5.60m and was catering to the existing demands of Indian Railway. Subsequently, Indian Railways with an eye on maximising freight traffic and at the same time keeping carbon emission to minimum with existing track capacity, it was imperative to run the freight trains with Double stack containers with same Line capacity and increased hauling capacity thereby necessitating the adoption of High Rise OHE with contact wire height of 7.57 meters.
The electrification with High Rise OHE had its fair share of technical problems with regard to operational issues with existing Electric Locomotives and also negotiating existing over line structures suited for conventional OHE.
To offset the problem, Pantograph pressure was adjusted suitably after several Locomotive Run trials at various speeds and study of the results by Research Design & Standard Organisation (Research Wing of IR). Studies based on Locomotive trial runs are still going on for further improvements.
The project involved 34710 Cu.mof Concrete, 12015 MT of steel, 1386.62 MT of copper conductor & 93 No’s of Bridge masts with an approximate cost of Rs 566 crore for Electrical, Civil and Signaling & Telecom works.
The electrification of Botad to Pipavav is almost in advance stage of completion and after mandatory CRS inspection, the Freight trains will be introduced with Electric Traction shortly up to Pipavav Port which is a very major connectivity to India’s first port build in Public Private Partnership model and a gateway port on the west coast India for handling containers, bulk cargos & Ro-Ro cargos. The facilitating of easy access to rail network at Pipavav port provides logistical advantage connecting the port to critical markets in the northwest part of India.
