If all goes well, Metro Railway will get its first rake from abroad in the next three months. The advanced rake from CRRC Dalian of China, the first of 14 being built by the company, is likely to reach Kolkata port in June, provided all the electrical components clear their requisite tests. Once in Kolkata, the rakes will undergo inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) before being pressed into service in the existing north-south corridor.

“The first rake of the series is nearly ready to be shipped. However, the electrical components supplied by Japan’s Toshiba will have to undergo trials. The trials will be conducted in Japan, although the rake will remain in China. Experts from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will travel to Japan to be present during the trials. Once the components are cleared, we expect the first rake to arrive in Kolkata in June,” said Metro Railway CPRO Indrani Banerjee.

Metro officials believe that necessary alterations to the two ICF rakes which reached Kolkata nearly six months ago from Chennai — and have been undergoing trials since then — will be made by the time the Chinese rake arrives. If all trials are cleared and the CRS gives the go-ahead, all three are likely to enter commercial services by the Pujas this year.

For several years now, Metro Railway’s north-south corridor — the oldest underground mass rapid transit system in the country — has operated 27 rakes. Of these, 13 are air-conditioned. Apart from the two ICF rakes and the 14 from Dalian, orders have also been placed for eight rakes from Chinese firm CSR Zhuzhou. This will be followed up by 14 more from ICF. Finally, CSR Zhuzhou will supply two more rakes. After their experience with the two from ICF, officials are now keen to ensure that all advanced rakes are compatible with the Metro’s system. Metro general manager Ajay Vijayvargiya has made it clear that there will be no compromise on passenger safety.

All eight coaches of the Dalian rake will have CCTV cameras. These cameras will also send real-time footage to the motormen’s cabins to allow them to take necessary action in case of an emergency. The rakes will also have better cooling for more comfortable rides, particularly during the summer. Every coach will also be equipped with eight talk-back units and buzzers that passengers in distress can use to communicate with the motormen.

NTPC has paid in advance Rs 4,700 crore to Railways for coal that the transporter will carry for the power major in financial year 2018-19. The money, however, will be reflected in earnings for the previous fiscal year.

While Indian Railways carried a record 1,162 million tonnes of freight in 2017-18, its highest ever, and around 4.8 per cent more than last year’s figures, the extra money from NTPC, an MoU for which was drawn on the last day of the financial year, will help the railway books look better and negate the possibility of a revenue shortfall in 2017-18. The extra money will have a direct bearing on the Operating Ratio of the transporter, which will now stay shy of 100 per cent, sources said.

In return, the NTPC will be insulated from all possible hikes in freight rates in 2018-19 and railways will remain a competitive mode for the power major. “This is a paradigm change. After the NTPC agreement, other players are also interested to enter into similar arrangements with us,” Railway Board Member (Traffic) Mohammad Jamshed said. Railways is looking to forge similar deals with other regular major clients.

1.  Dedication of Electrified Double Line between Kalpattichatram – Tamaraipadi railway stations (25.44 km)

The section between Kalpattichatram – Tamaraipadi railway stations (25.44 km) is part of the Villupuram – Dindigul (270 km) Doubling with Electrification project and the last stretch to be completed.    With the commissioning of this section, the entire stretch between Chennai and Madurai will have electrified double line.  This Villupuram – Dindigul project was completed by RVNL at a cost of 1600 cr. covering 270.15 km.  CRS inspection in Kalpattichatram – Tamaraipadi section was carried out on 13th& 14th March, 2018 and the section was opened for traffic on 30th March, 2018.

The electrified double line between Chennai and Madurai would ease congestion in the chord line section and pave the way for operation of more services.  There would be substantial reduction in travel time also.

There are a total of 43 stations in Villupuram – Dindigul project including 4 Junction stations.  52 major bridges and 576 minor bridges are constructed in the section.  18 stations were revamped and additional facilities are provided while in 19 stations including 3 halts, existing buildings were refurbished.

2.  Dedication of Gauge Converted Aryankavu – Edamann (20.884 km) section to the Nation

New Aryankavu – Edamann stretch (21 km) is a part of the Sengottai – Punalur section of Kollam – Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur & Tenkasi – Virudunagar Gauge Conversion (357 km) project.  The section traverses through the Kollam district (Kerala) and would give a fillip to the connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Kerala states thus playing a pivotal role in boosting the economy of South India. Commissioning of this stretch will provide an alternative route for travel between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This picturesque section will also draw more tourists and rail enthusiasts from all over the country.

The rail route includes a heritage 13-arch bridge along the 49 kilometre long railway line from Punalur to Sengottai, commissioned in 1903. The bridge measuring 102.72 meters in length and 5.18 meters in height was constructed using the ancient Surki method by the British. It is now strengthened using concrete jacketing and the heritage look will be artificially created by fixing the walls with tiles resembling the old construction blocks.

The track structure on the main line consists of 60 kg class-I Flat Footed rails on mono block PSC sleepers with 1660 sleepers per km and 250 mm ballast cushion.  There are 16 (15 waterway bridges + 1 viaduct) major bridges & 78 minor bridges.  5 tunnels are constructed for a length of 1.8 km in the section.  This line traverses through the Western Ghats and has sharp curves of up to 10 degrees.  There are 3 crossing stations viz., Aryankavu New block, Tenmalai & Edamann and 3 halt stations viz., Edapalayam, Kalthuruthi & Ottakkal in this New Aryankavu – Edamann section.  There is no unmanned level crossing in this section.

Total cost of this project covering 21 Kms is Rs.185 cr. CRS inspection was completed in the section on 12th& 13th of January, 2018 and the section was commissioned for traffic on 31st of March, 2018.

3.  Dedication of Gauge Converted Line between Pattukottai – Karaikkudi Jn.  (73.435 km) to the Nation

Karaikkudi – Pattukottai stretch (73 km) is a part of Mayiladuturai – Thiruvarur-Tiruturaipundi – Karaikkudi (187 km) Gauge Conversion project.  The line traverses through the districts of Thanjavur, Pudukkottai & Sivaganga.  Paddy is grown in abundance here.  The centralised procurement of paddy by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and rice mills of Food Corporation of India from paddy growing centres in the section is a regular and bi-annual feature.  Similarly, Chemical manure is transported to the paddy growing areas in the section.  Commissioning the newly converted broad gauge section will increase the movement of food grains from delta regions to other parts of Tamil Nadu State and will provide a shorter route for movement of fertilisers from Milavittan to delta regions. CRS inspection was completed in the section on 1st of March, 2018 and the section was commissioned for traffic on 30th March, 2018.

There are 14 major bridges and 255 minor bridges in the section.  There are 5 crossing stations viz.,Pattukottai, Peravurani, Ayingudi, Arantangi & Periyakottai and 3 halt stations viz., Ottangadu, Valaramanikkam & Kandanur Puduvayal in this Karaikkudi – Pattukottai section.  There is no unmanned level crossing in this section.  Total cost of this 73 km gauge conversion project is Rs.547.75 cr.

4.  Dedication of Double Line between Solagampatti – Thanjavur Jn.  (28.75 km) to the Nation

As part of doubling of track between Thanjavur – Ponmalai project taken up by RVNL, the stretch between Solagampatti – Thanjavur Junction (28.75 Km) has been completed.  With the commissioning of this section, the delays due to crossings in Tiruchchirappalli – Thanjavur section would not arise thus enabling the operation of more train services.  The second line would also decongest the highly saturated main line boosting both passenger and freight traffic.  Significantly, the freight movement of PDS and Civil Supplies Corporation from delta regions would get a fillip as also the movement of cement traffic.  CRS inspection was carried out in the section on 29th& 30th of February, 2018.  The section was subsequently commissioned for traffic on 27th March, 2018.

The total project cost of Thanjavur – Ponmalai doubling work is Rs.350 crore covering 46.96 kms and was executed by RVNL.  7 stations were covered. 16 major bridges and 83 minor bridges were constructed in the section.  2 Foot over Bridges have been newly constructed while 1 FOB has been extended.  All the stations have been provided with additional passenger amenities.

The section is also being electrified simultaneously as part of the Tiruchchirappalli – Thanjavur – Tiruvarur – Karaikal Electrification Project.

5.  Dedication of the Third Line between Ponmalai – Tiruchchirappalli (2 km) to the Nation

The newly constructed electrified third line between between Ponmalai Golden Rock station and Tiruchchirappalli (2 km) is also ready for commissioning.  This project is part of the Villupuram – Dindigul Doubling Project by RVNL completed at a total cost of Rs.1600 crores.  The delay due to crossings in the highly saturated Ponmalai – Tiruchchirappalli section will be minimised on commissioning of the third line.

South Eastern Railway has remarkably finished the financial year 2017-18 by loading at about 150.76 million tonnes of revenue earning freight registering a growth of 2.05% over the performance of the financial year 2016-17, the loading of which was 147.73 million tonnes.

The increase of additional freight loading has been 3.03 million tonnes in comparison with the last year.

The major commodities of this tremendous freight loading are the loading of iron-ore, which is 85.51 million tonnes, coal loading which is 27.45 million tonnes, the loading of pig-iron and finished steel which is 15.93 million tonnes, loading of cement which is 10.24 million tonnes, the loading of merchandised goods which is 4.62 million tonnes, the loading of Raw materials to steel plants which is 3.18 million tonnes, the loading of petroleum goods which is 1.52 million tonnes and so on.

This robust freight loading has been possible due to incremental loading of Coal which is 9.28 % more than the previous year

दक्षिण पूर्वी मध्य रेलवे के द्वारा यात्री सुविधा एवं पर्यावरण के सकारात्मक प्रभाव की दृष्टी से अपने तीनों मंडलों बिलासपुर, कारगर बनाते हुए सभी स्टेशनों एवं कार्यालयों, कारखानों, वर्कशापों में जहा चौबीसों घंटे काम चलता है एवं वहा हमेशा काफी प्रकाश की आवश्यकता होती है तथा कालोनियों जैसे सभी स्थानों पर प्रकाश व्यवस्था के लिए 100 प्रतिशत LED लाईट फिटिंग करने का लक्ष्य रखा है | LED लाईट से रौशनी तो अधिक होती ही है साथ ही गर्मी अपेक्षाकृत कम उत्सर्जित करती है एवं कमसे कम विद्युत् की खपत होती है |

इस प्रकार दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेलवे ने अपने तीनो मंडलों के अंतर्गत आनेवाली सभी महत्वपूर्ण 260 स्टेशनों में 100% एलईडी से प्रकाश व्यवस्था प्रदान की है । इससे कम से कम विद्युत् से अधिक से अधिक प्रकाश की व्यवस्था करना संभव हो सका है |  दक्षिण पूर्वी मध्य रेलवे ने तीन मंडलों बिलासपुर, रायपुर और नागपुर के प्रमुख सभी 260 स्टेशनों पर मौजूदा पारंपरिक फिटिंग की जगह एलईडी फिटिंग के स्थान पर 100% एलईडी प्रकाश प्रदान करने के लिए चुनौतीपूर्ण टास्क को हासिल किया है ।

इस चुनौती पूर्वक पहल के पूर्ण करने के परिणामस्वरूप दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेलवे द्वारा प्रति वर्ष बिजली की खपत भी काफी कम हुई है | इससे दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेलवे द्वारा प्रतिवर्ष लगभग 13.85 लाख यूनिट विद्युत् इकाइयों की बचत होगी, जिसे अन्य यात्री सिविधा के कार्यों में उपयोग किया जा रहा है | इस प्रकार दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेलवे द्वारा प्रतिवर्ष लगभग 13.85 लाख यूनिट विद्युत् इकाइयों की बचत से 1.18 करोड़ रूपये सालाना का राजस्वा की बचत हो रही है |

दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेलवे रखे गए लक्ष्य के अनुसार ज़ोन के बचे हुए सभी सेवा भवनों, प्रशासनिक भवनों,  कार्यशालाओं,  शेड,  आवासीय क्वार्टरों और अन्य कार्यालयों पर एलईडी प्रकाश प्रदान करना जल्द ही किया जा रहा है, ताकि अधिक से अधिक LED के उपयोग से ऊर्जा, राजस्व की बचत होने के साथ ही साथ पर्यावरण संरक्षण से संवंधित सकारात्मक प्रभाव पद सके |

Railway Board has directed Zonal Railways to provide Wi-Fi facility to Railway Stations having rural background apart from provision of Wi-Fi facility to important A-1, A and B category stations over the Zone.

In this direction, Board has given target to South Central Railway to provide Wi-Fi facility at 45 Railway Stations having rural background in the current fiscal (2017-18). Accordingly, SCR has accomplished the target by providing Wi-Fi facility at 45 Rural Railway Stations. These include 7 ‘D’ Category stations, 35 ‘E’ Category stations and 3 ‘F’ category stations over the Zone.

Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, General Manager, SCR congratulated Shri Vinay Mohan Srivastava, Principal Chief Signal & Telecommunications Engineer, Divisional Railway Managers of Concerned Divisions and all the Officials & staff of Signal & Telecommunications department for achieving the target in close coordination with Rail Tel Corporation Ltd. in the stipulated time frame.

Indian Railways team had won 3rd Federation Cup Kabaddi for Women Championship which was held at Jogeshwari, Mumbai recently. Western Railway had major participation in Indian railway contingent with five Players and national coach and observer. Shri A. K. Gupta, General manager, Western Railway and Shri R. K. Lal, President Western Railway Sports Association conveyed their congratulations and best wishes to the players and coach of Western Railway.

Kumari Sonali Shingte, Kumari Raskha Narkar ,Kumari Minal Jadhav, Kumari Rimpi Rani and Kumari Neha Ghadge of Western Railway  were represented Indian Railway team. Smt.Manisha Patil was the Observer (RSPB) of the event and Smt.Lalita Bhosale was the coach of Indian Railway team. In a brief ceremony, felicitation was given to the team by General manager.WR team also won Gold Medal in All India Inter Railway Championship 2017-18 held at Solapur in Maharashtra.

A Multi Modal Logistics Park at Balli Station near Madgaon in Goa state on Konkan Railway route was inaugurated by CMD Konkan Railway Shri Sanjay Gupta and   P K Agarwal, Director, Container Corporation on 28.03.2018. The park has been set up with an investment of Rs 43 Cr. as per the MoU entered between Konkan Railway & Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR).

The distance between JNPT port of Mumbai and Goa is around 650 Km. Presently containers from Goa reach JNPT via road in 30-40 hrs. After completion of Container Depot at Balli the containers could reach JNPT within 16 to 18 hrs which will not only save the time but also cost of transportation, relieving congestion on road and last but not least the fuel which in turn would affect reduction in pollution.

Both Trade & Industry in Goa will greatly benefit from the economic transport solutions & state of the art facilities that CONCOR will be providing in partnership with Konkan Railway at this facility. In the first year of operations itself, the facility is likely to generate additional source of revenue for Konkan Railway.

The facility is initially spread over 81,300 square meters with a scope for expansion as the traffic may grow in future. This Logistics Park will be able to handle both Domestic and Exim Container Traffic. In addition to container traffic, commodities transported by both open and covered wagons can also be handled from here. 5000 square meters of Custom Bonded Warehousing space is also being created and a host of value added services like stuffing, repackaging etc will be available to its users.

India’s fastest train Gatimaan Express has been extended up to Bundelkhand Region w.e.f 1^st April, 2018. It has been notified that the Train no 12049/50 Nizammuddin-Agra Cantt Gatimaan Exp. has been extended upto Gwalior/Jhansi for facilitating passengers. The extension of this prestigious premium train will facilitate movement of tourists to various tourist attractions in and around Gwalior and Jhansi of Bundelkhand region. It will boost the tourism in the region.

The train will run as per following details:-

Details of Extension upto Gwalior

Train No 12050Nizammuddin-Gwalior GatimaanExp	Stations	Train No 12049Gwalior- NizammuddinGatimaan Exp.
Departure-08.10	Nizammuddin	Arrival -19.30
09.50-09.55	Agra Cantt	17.45-1750
Arrival -11.25	Gwalior	Departure-16.15

Details of Extension upto Jhansi

Train No 12050Nizammuddin-Jhansi GatimaanExp	Stations	Train No 12049Jhansi- NizammuddinGatimaan Exp.
Departure-08.10	Nizammuddin	Arrival -19.30
09.50-09.55	Agra Cantt	17.45-1750
11.16-11.18	Gwalior	16.05-16.07
Arrival -12.35	Jhansi	Departure-15.05

Note: The train will run six days a week as per above time tables except Friday.

A state-of-the-art Wagon POH (Periodic Over Haul) workshop, which will provide employment to 300 workers besides facilitating repair of 200 wagons a month, is expected to start functioning at Vadlapudi in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits, in about a year’s time.

The project, coming up on a 178-acre land, will have lathe wheel machines, cranes, repair sheds, paint booths and a 16-km loop line within the premises.

The Wagon POH workshop, announced for Visakhapatnam, by the then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu at a cost of ₹213.97 crore, in 2015-16 Railway Budget, will ensure adequate availability of wagons for the Visakhapatnam Port, Gangavaram Port and other industries, many of which are in an expansion mode. It will also reduce the wagon turnaround time and help railways to generate additional revenue.

The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was entrusted with the execution of the Wagon POH project in 2016. URC Construction Private Limited of Erode in Tamil Nadu has bagged the contract for the project.

“The levelling of the ground has been completed. Some of the structures to be used in construction would be pre-fabricated and some would be made of galvanised material. Orders have already been placed for supply of machinery and equipment,” Chief Project Manager-1 of RVNL, Visakhapatnam, Akshay Saxena told.

“We have already spent ₹15 crore, and during the current year ₹25 crore would be utilised. The maximum expenditure would be on ‘heavy booking’ for procurement of heavy machinery like gantry girders and cranes, which would be installed during the 2018-19 fiscal,” Mr. Saxena said.

“The volume of earthwork is huge and it has been almost completed. The work on foundation is in progress, and once that is completed, columns would be constructed. The workshop, to be equipped with the latest machinery, would be among the top such workshops in the country. We are confident of completing the project ahead of schedule by March 2019,” Mr. Saxena said. “The land at Vadlapudi was purchased by Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in 1983 and handed over to the railway for setting up of railway facilities, which could be of use to VSP, as the site is adjacent to the railway lines going to the steel plant,” Deputy General Manager G.N. Murthy said.

“Three ‘stabling lines’ are being provided to facilitate the parking of wagons, which are brought for repairs, when there is no space inside the repair sheds,” he added.