The Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunication (IRISET) Secunderabad, the premier Centralized Training Institute under Ministry of Railways for imparting training in Signal and Telecommunication Engineering will host the Passing Out function for Probationary Officers of IRSSE (Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers) 2015 batch who have completed their training on 22^nd January, 2018 at its premises.

The Passing out Batch of IRSSE Engineers comprises of 17 Probationers out of which, 04 are Women Officers.  These officers were selected through UPSC Group- ‘A’ Combined Engineering Services in Electronics & Communication Branch and joined Indian Railways in August-2016 at IRISET. They have underwent intensive training of 78 weeks covering 52 weeks of Institutional training at National Academy of Indian Railways, Vadodara and at IRISET, Secunderabad.  During the course of their training, the Officers were also deputed to various Zones spread over Indian Railways for field training. These Probationer Officers will be reporting to their respective Zonal Railways for their first posting.

The Probationary Officers had called on Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon’ble President of India on 10^th January, 2018 at Rashrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The President complimented them for joining Indian Railways, which provides a unique opportunity to serve the nation and millions of citizens each day.

Shri Akhil Agarwal, Director General (Signal & Telecommunications), Railway Board will be the Chief Guest at the Passing out Function and will present Certificates and Mementoes to these 17 IRSSE Probationers. Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, General Manager, SCR along with Shri H.K.Agarwal, Additional Member (Telecom) and Shri N. Kashinath, Additional Member (Signal) will be Guests of Honour. Shri L.P.Sinha, Director, IRISET will deliver the welcome address.

In a first of its kind initiative on Indian Railways, Guntakal Division of South Central Railway has started a novel mechanism in association with noted Kalamkari artist Shri Niranjan for promoting local tourist attractions near Dharmavaram and Anantapur Railway stations, bringing to use digital technology.

The mechanism is to depict a picture of tourist locations along with a QR code at vantage locations in the premises of the two railway stations.

All that a passenger who alights or visits Dharmavaram and Anantapur Railway Stations has to do is to scan the QR bar code present on the picture of the tourism spot, which will take them to a page giving a brief description of the location and the available train connectivity. In addition, a 3-D virtual tour of the tourist attraction is also available for tourists.

The two railway stations have also been beautified with Kalamkari paintings to present aesthetically pleasing ambience.

1. Train No. 12669 Chennai Central-Chapra Ganga Kaveri Express scheduled to depart 17:40 hrs on 20^th January, 2018 is rescheduled to depart 20:00 hrs on the same day.
2. Train No. 12512 Thiruvananthapruam – Gorakhpur Raptisagar Express scheduled to depart 06:15 hrs on 21^st January, 2018 is rescheduled to depart 11:30 hrs on the same day.

MUMBAI: Western Railway has decided to run two additional services stopping at all stations during midnight of 20^th and 21^stJanuary, 2018 between Virar and Churchgate to facilitate participants attending the TATA Mumbai Marathon 2018. The station to station timings of these trains are as under: टाटा मुंबई मैराथन 2018 में भाग लेने वाले प्रतिभागियों की सुविधा के लिए पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा 20 एवं 21 जनवरी, 2018 के बीच पड़ने वाली मध्य रात्रि को अप दिशा में विरार से चर्चगेट के बीच सभी स्टेशनों पर ठहरने वाली 2 अतिरिक्त सेवाएँ चलाने का निर्णय लिया गया है। इन विशेष लोकल ट्रेनों की समय सारणी निम्नानुसार है:- 

स्टेशन Station	Special-1	Special-2
विरार VIRAR	2:45	3:05
नालासोपारा NALLASOPARA	2:51	3:11
वसई रोड VASAI ROAD	2:56	3:16
नायगाँव NAIGAON	3:01	3:21
भाईंदर BHAYANDAR	3:06	3:26
मीरा रोड MIRA ROAD	3:11	3:31
दहिसर DAHISAR	3:15	3:35
बोरीवली BORIVALI	3:19	3:39
कांदिवली KANDIVALI	3:23	3:43
मालाड MALAD	3:26	3:46
गोरेगाँव GOREGAON	3:30	3:50
राम मंदिर RAM MANDIR	3.33	3.53
जोगेश्वरी JOGESHWARI	3:35	3:55
अंधेरी ANDHERI	3:38	3:58
विलेपार्ले VILE PARLE	3:41	4:02
सांताक्रुज SANTACRUZ	3:44	4:05
खार रोड KHAR ROAD	3:47	4:08
बांद्रा BANDRA	3:50	4:11
माहिम MAHIM	3:53	4:14
माटुंगा रोड MATUNGA ROAD	3:56	4:17
दादर DADAR	3:59	4:20
एलफिंस्टन रोड ELPHINSTONE ROAD	4:02	4:22
लोअर परेल LOWER PAREL	4:05	4:25
महालक्ष्मी MAHALAKSHMI	4:08	4:28
मुंबई सेंट्रल MUMBAI CENTRAL	4:11	4:31
ग्रांट रोड GRANT ROAD	4:14	4:34
चर्नी रोड CHARNI ROAD	4:17	4:37
मरीन लाइन्स MARINE LINES	4:20	4:40
चर्चगेट CHURCHGATE	4:23	4:43

WESTERN RAILWAY’S JUMBO BLOCK BETWEEN ANDHERI AND BORIVALI ON SUNDAY, 21^ST  JANUARY, 2018  (पश्चिम रेलवे का रविवार, 21 जनवरी, 2018 को अंधेरी तथा बोरीवली स्टेशनों के बीच जम्बो ब्लॉक)

रेल पथ, सिगनलिंग प्रणाली तथा ऊपरी उपस्करों के रख-रखाव हेतु पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा रविवार, 21 जनवरी, 2018 को 10.35 बजे से 15.35 बजे तक अंधेरी तथा  बोरीवली स्टेशनों के बीच अप तथा डाउन फास्ट लाइनों पर जम्बो ब्लॉक लिया जायेगा। ब्लॉक के दौरान अप तथा डाउन दिशा की सभी फास्ट ट्रेनों को अंधेरी तथा बोरीवली स्टेशनों के बीच अप तथा डाउन धीमी लाइनों पर चलाया जायेगा। ब्लॉक के कारण कुछ अप तथा डाउन उपनगरीय ट्रेनें रद्द रहेंगी। ब्लॉक अवधि के दौरान बोरीवली की ट्रेनों को बोरीवली स्टेशन पर प्लेटफॉर्म सं. 1/2 एवं 4 पर तथा विरार ट्रेनों को प्लेटफॉर्म सं. 3/5 पर लिया जायेगा। मेल/एक्सप्रेस ट्रेनों को बोरीवली में प्लेटफॉर्म सं. 8/9 तथा 5 पर लिया जायेगा। इस ब्लॉक की विस्तृत जानकारी स्टेशन मास्टरों के पास उपलब्ध है। यात्रियों से अनुरोध है कि वे यात्रा प्रारम्भ करते समय उपरोक्त व्यवस्था को ध्यान में रखें।

A jumbo block of five hours will be taken from 10.35 hrs to 15.35 hrs on Sunday, 21^st January, 2018 on UP and DOWN Fast lines between Andheri and Borivali stations for the maintenance of track, signaling and overhead equipments. During the block period, all trains running on ‘Fast Lines’ will run on ‘Slow Lines’ between Borivali and Andheri and some UP and DOWN local trains will remain cancelled. During this block period, Borivali trains will be dealt on Platforms 1, 2 and 4 and Virar trains on Platform 3 & 5 at Borivali station. Similarly, Mail/Express trains will be dealt on Platform 8, 9 and 5 at Borivali station. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned Station Masters. Passengers are requested to take note of the above arrangements.

Indian Railways’ massive electrification plan may just be the opportunity Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd — the manufacturer of boilers and turbine generators for the power sector — is looking for to make sure it gets 40 to 50 percent of its revenues in some years from now. The start hasn’t been bad. From getting small contracts for sewage treatment and lake cleaning, the company is now in contention for a big one — Railways’ first large electrification tender — this one being of 400 kms.

The company aims to double the share of revenues from non-power sector to 40 percent by 2022. “Internally, the company wants to make it 50 percent but that would be very difficult. Forty percent by 2022 is what looks feasible and we are working towards that,” a senior official with the company told.

BHEL which is a Schedule-A Maha-Ratna PSU, reported sales of Rs 5,607 crore in June quarter with share of non-power revenues at close to 23 percent.

The railways’ 400-km track electrification tender is a prestigious one. It’s the first time in history the monolith is attempting to undertake such an exercise with just one tender, this being 10 to 11 times larger than what the national transporter has been doing all these decades.

BHEL has crossed the first hurdle of technical qualification. The competition is tough — the likes of Tata Projects, Tata Power Ltd., KEC International, Larsen & Toubro, Siemens, Kalpataru Power Transmission being in a queue of 12 bidders.

Even as it hopes to get the contract for “electrifying this running track”, BHEL is also eyeing tracks as large as 1,000 km to execute work “in project mode in non-power area, particularly on public private partnership basis,” the official said. Orders for coaches from the Mumbai Metro are also on BHEL’s agenda, the official said.

The 10-fold jump in the size of the tenders is on the directions of the Railways Minister Piyush Goyal who wants to speed up the electrification process that has become a victim of small tenders being awarded to several parties. He now plans to awards contracts for as large as 1,500 kms in one go.

Consultation process over, the railways is now working on framing a model agreement and a model tender process to carry out its boss’ directions.

BHEL is also eyeing a play in the emerging electric mobility sector. This could include solutions for battery storage as well as supplying electric vehicles though plans for this are at a very initial stage and a framework on what all segments it should target is still some time away, the official said.

“We are looking at storage and battery management systems. We could also make motors and controllers, buy the chassis from Tata Motors or Ashok Leyland and supply the electric vehicle,” he said.

The department of heavy industries under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises is shepherding ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India’ policy. FAME is currently being implemented in six cities.

As a first step, BHEL is hoping to partner Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments for a project on electric mobility.

The official said margins in most of the non-power sector remained in low single digits as there were one too many players operating in these segments.

South Western Railway has decided for continuation of Train No. 06547/06548, Yesvantpur –Ernakulam – Yesvantpur Weekly Tatkal Express Special for 1 more trips in each direction to clear extra rush of passengers.

Train No. 06547, Yesvantpur – Ernakulam Weekly Tatkal Express Special departs Yesvantpur at 22:45 hrs. on 23^rdJanuary, 2018 (Tuesday) and reaches Ernakulam at 12:00 hrs. on respective Wednesday.

Enroute, the train arrives/departs Krishnarajapuram at 23:21/23:23 Hrs., and on Wednesday arrives/departs Bangarapet at 00:13/00:15 Hrs., Tirupattur at 01:55/02:00 Hrs., Salem at 03:27/03:30 Hrs., Erode at 04:40/04:45 Hrs., Tiruppur at 05:23/05:25 Hrs., Coimbatore at 06:45/06:50 Hrs., Palghat at 08:25/08:30 Hrs., Ottapalam at 09:18/09:20 Hrs., Thrisur at 10:02/10:05 Hrs., Aluva at 11:02/11:04 Hrs., Ernakulam Town at 11:40/11:45 Hrs.

Train No. 06548, Ernakulam – Yesvantpur Weekly Tatkal Express Special departs Ernakulam at 14:45 hrs. on 24^thJanuary, 2018 (Wednesday) and reaches Yesvantpur at 04:30 hrs. on respective Thursday.

Enroute, the train arrives/departs Aluva at 15:11/15:13 Hrs., Thrisur at 16:30/16:35 Hrs., Ottapalam at 18:43/18:45 Hrs., Palghat at 19:18/19:20 Hrs., Coimbatore at 20:37/20:40 Hrs., Tiruppur at 21:23/21:25 Hrs., Erode at 22:10/22:15 Hrs., Salem at 23:07/23:10 Hrs. and on Thursday arrives/departs Tirupattur at 01:00/01:05 Hrs., Bangarapet at 02:18/02:20 Hrs., Krishnarajapuram at 03:15/03:17 Hrs.

The train Composition will have ONE AC 2-tier coach, TWO AC 3-tier coaches, EIGHT Second Class Sleeper coaches and TWO Luggage-cum-Brakevan with disabled friendly compartment.

Activists of Nagapattinam district have urged the Railway Ministry to take steps to revive the Mayiladuthurai-Tranquebar rail link and allocate adequate funds for the project in the forthcoming budget.

If revived, they contend, the rail link will provide connectivity to important tourist destinations and give a big push to the economic development of the delta region.

In a memorandum to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Arupathy P. Kalyanam, organiser, Mayiladuthurai-Tranquebar Train Restoration Committee, said the rail link served the people residing in the tail-end of the Cauvery delta for more than 60 years — from 1926 until it was closed in 1987. The 30-km section needs to be revived.

In fact, the Railway Ministry ordered a survey in 2005-06 to explore the feasibility of extending the line to Karaikal via Thirunallar for a total length of 47.3 km. Owing to delay in sanctioning the project, a reassessment was done in 2010-11 and the cost increased to Rs. 175 crore, he said.

The section will provide a circular rail route covering the Cauvery delta linking Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Tranquebar, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur and will be remunerative for the Railways too. “The historical, heritage tourism and pilgrimage project proposal on Mayiladuthurai-Thirukadaiyur-Tranquebar-Thirunallar-Karaikal section is awaiting sanction since 2011,” he rued.

The project is in the recommended list of the State government too. If implemented it will connect major Hindu,Muslim and Christian pilgrimage centres and usher in development in the region.

Off the four old routes constructed during the British period in the region, the Mayiladuthurai-Tranquebar section is the only route neglected by the Railways, and the other three sections have been taken up for development. “The project will entail only restoration and gauge conversion and should be taken up on a priority basis considering its heritage, historic and tourism value,” Mr. Kalyanam said.

With electrification works in the Tiruchi-Karur-Erode broad gauge section over, the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), which executed the project, has invited the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to carry out mandatory inspection of the electrified stretch prior to operation of passenger and freight trains.

Ahead of the CRS statutory inspection, CORE officials have decided to carry out a trial run in the nearly 140 km electrified section using an electric locomotive. The trial run is expected to be conducted next week from Erode to Tiruchi by attaching a tower wagon and service vehicles to the electric loco.

A senior CORE official said the trial run would be carried out at a speed ranging from 60-90 km/hour. Following completion of the electrification works, the CRS had been invited to conduct statutory inspection of the electrified stretch. Only after obtaining sanction from the CRS would the stretch be formally commissioned for operation of passenger and freight trains hauled by electric locomotives.

Visit likely by month-end

CORE authorities expect the visit to take place by this month-end. If everything goes on as per plan, the electrified stretch is most likely to become ready for operation of trains from next month, the official added.

The electrification project wascompleted at a cost of Rs. 140 crore.

At present, passenger and freight trains are being operated in the stretch hauled by diesel locomotives. The Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore-Mayiladuthurai Jan Shatabdhi Express, Mysore-Mayiladuthurai-Mysore Express, Tiruchi-Palakkad-Tiruchi passenger, Tiruchi-Karur and Tiruchi-Erode passengers are being operated at present in the section

Initially, power will be drawn from sub stations at Tiruchi and Erode for operation of the trains. The ongoing works of establishing electric sub stations as part of the project at Velliyanai, Pettavaithalai and Pugalur are all expected to be completed in the coming months.

The official said electrification works in the 71-km Karur-Dindigul broad section, which are also being carried out by CORE, was expected to be completed between March and April.

The railways in India is often called as the lifeline of the country. For decades, railways have been the great connector for Indians, offering long-distance travel at affordable pricing. For a long time, rail travel in India was just a means of going from point A to B, with little focus on comfort and safety of passengers. However, as India continues its march to transform its infrastructure, upgrade of railways has received investments and attention of the current establishment. On 30^th November, the railways ministry of India announced it will be revamping its Rajdhani express trains. Earlier, the rail ministry had also upgraded another of its premium trains known as the Shatabdi Express.

The present dispensation in India has been focusing on providing a boost to the country’s infrastructure, with railways receiving particular attention. In February 2017, it was announced that the government will be spending nearly US$ 59 billion to modernize its airports and railways. In addition to expanding the existing airports, the government announced that it will lay new tracks to boost the connectivity between towns and cities.

Rail equipment manufacturers and suppliers are investing in building factories to provide an impetus to growth. The country is also proposing a new metro rail policy, which is likely to acceleration the much-delayed modernization of the railways. According to the vision document of Indian Railways, the government is committed to create 3X bigger Indian railways that is economically viable. Some of the key initiatives that the government is focusing on include integrated corridor approach and best in class rolling stock. To build terminal infrastructure, the government is focusing on upgrading good sheds.

According to the vision document, convenience to passengers also remains a key focus area for the government, with punctuality, cleanliness & beautification, and safe catering among the key initiatives. The approach of the railways is consumer-centric, with seamless passenger services receiving the attention of the government. The development of mobile apps that provide affiliated services such as ticketing and taxi, along with passenger feedback and grievance redressal are among the other services that the government is offering to improve customer experience.

To offer passengers comfort during the long journeys, the government is also focusing on improving the quality of materials used to manufacture the interiors of railways. From fire-proof curtains to comfortable seats, the railways ministry in India is taking initiatives to improve the overall functionality and design of railways. The focus on upgrading seat materials is not only limited to Indian railways, as can be gauged from the steady growth in the global train seat materials market, which was valued at nearly US$ 1.61 billion in 2015, and is on course to grow at over 5% CAGR through 2024.

Overall, the focus on modernizing Indian railways is likely to create opportunities for parts manufacturers and suppliers. The recent collaboration between India and Japan on the high-speed bullet train is an example of the focus of the present dispensation towards railways.

Courtesy: Abhishek Budholiya: Abhishek Budholiya is a tech blogger, digital marketing pro, and has contributed to numerous tech magazines. Currently, as a technology and digital branding consultant, he offers his analysis on the tech market research landscape. His forte is analysing the commercial viability of a new breakthrough, a trait you can see in his writing. When he is not ruminating about the tech world, he can be found playing table tennis or hanging out with his friends

The Patna High Court on Thursday accepted the request of the Railways that train services on Patna-Digha route should not be withdrawn for the time being as it might lead to encroachments on the land.

The petition seeking withdrawal of train services and transformation of the land owned by railways into a four-lane road connecting the north and south Patna came up for hearing before the Division Bench of Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Prakash Chandra Jaiswal. The train between R-Block Railway Station and Digha passes through the busy Hartali Mor at peak hours, triggering traffic jams and leaving commuters stranded.

Sources said earlier the High Court was inclined to withdraw the train services on the 2km-long track as the railways had made it clear that it was not interested to run the “lossmaking” passenger train. The train runs despite loss of over Rs 6 lakh per month. It earns just Rs 7,800 per month.

The matter will now come up for hearing in the high court after four weeks.