Indian Railways to Upgrade Older Trains With 12,000 HP Push-Pull Locomotives

Indian Railways is planning to bring in more 6,000-horsepower (HP) locomotives for passenger trains, as per The Economic Times news report.  

The engines will be used with older conventional trains as part of a plan to improve their operation. Two locomotives will be used for each train, with one engine at the front and another at the rear.  

This push-pull arrangement will give the train a combined power of 12,000 HP. 

Trains Could Run at 160 kmph 

The additional power is expected to help trains accelerate faster. Conventional trains that can work with the new locomotives could run at speeds of up to 160 kmph on routes that have been upgraded for such speeds. 

At present, conventional passenger locomotives mainly fall in the 5,000-6,000 HP range. The proposed 6,000-HP engines are therefore within the existing power range, but will be used in pairs. 

Generator Cars to Be Removed 

The new locomotives will also provide electricity for facilities inside the coaches, including lights, fans, and air conditioning. This means a separate power generator car will not be needed. 

The change will apply to locomotive-hauled services and will allow conventional coaches to remain in use. It is different from Vande Bharat, where traction equipment is spread underneath the coaches of the train set. 

Procurement and Maintenance 

Indian Railways plans to procure the locomotives through supply and maintenance contracts. Private and public sector technology partners will be considered for these contracts. 

The newer engines are expected to be more energy- and noise-efficient. The procurement is part of the railway's plans to improve conventional passenger services without adopting the Vande Bharat train-set format. 

Conventional Coaches to Remain 

The proposal does not involve replacing conventional coaches with self-propelled train sets. Instead, the focus is on the locomotives used to operate these services. 

With two engines working together, trains will have 12,000 HP available. The arrangement is expected to improve acceleration and support higher speeds on suitable routes. 

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Conclusion 

Indian Railways plans to use pairs of 6,000-HP locomotives for older passenger trains. The system will retain conventional coaches, while removing the need for separate generator cars and allowing speeds of up to 160 kmph on upgraded routes. 

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