‘India emerging as hub for metro coaches’

[Echo_419]

Next in line i believe Hyderabad and Kochi metro inauguration in 2016.Navi mumbai and lucknow metro in 2017.
So another 4 metro rail in about 2 year time

Brilliant news next target should be provide Metro like systems too all of our cities

 

[Hindustani78]

People on board a metro train after Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa flagged off the Chennai Metro Rail Limiteds passenger services between Alandur and Koyambedu through video conference, in Chennai.

 

[Hindustani78]

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Member of Parliament visiting a stall depicting Hubli-Dharwad Rapid Metro Transport Model, at the Public Information Campaign, at Dharwad district of Karnataka on July 03, 2015.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
06-July, 2015 18:53 IST
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu releases 50000th Coach manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, a production unit of Indian Railways. He also dedicates the New LHB Coach Manufacturing Unit in ICF itself to the nation.


Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu released 50000th Coach manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, a production unit of Indian Railways. Shri Prabhu also dedicated the New LHB Coach (Modern Passenger Coach) Manufacturing Unit in ICF itself to the nation at a programme held here today.ICF has achieved the distinction of being the only coach manufacturer in the World to have manufactured 50000 coaches. ICF coaches have moved India for the last about 60 years and will continue to do so for many years to come. The programme was conducted between Rail Bhawan, New Delhi and ICF factory premises Chennai through Video Conferencing. The persons present on Rail Bhawan side included Chairman Railway Board Shri A. K. Mital and other Railway Board members. The persons present on the Chennai side included Shri V. K. Saraswat, Member NITI Aayog, Shri Hemant Kumar, Member Mechanical, Railway Board, Shri Ashok K. Agarwal, General Manager, ICF.

Speaking on the occasion, The Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu said that it is a proud moment for Indian Railways when the 50,000th coach manufactured by ICF has been released. He said that when in future we release 1,00,000th coach, we expect it to be the most modern coach going even beyond our present imagination. He said that we need to setup Global Standards in manufacturing rolling stocks. He said that Indian Railway has already signed an MOU with National Institute of Design (NID) to improve internal design of the coaches for better comfort and convenience of the passengers. He said that now dustbins are being provided even in non AC coaches. Regarding LHB coaches, the Minister pointed out that Indian Railways will accelerate production of these modern coaches which have better safety features, higher ride comfort, superior passengers’ amenities and high speed potential. Referring to the quality, The Railway Minister said that there is a need to focus on materials and hence Indian Railways is collaborating with academic institutions like IITs, BHU, Mumbai University etc. to undertake research on these matters and consequently come out with appropriate solutions. Referring to improvement in Loco technology, the Minister said that we should develop triple fuel locos like electricity, Diesel and CNG.The Minister also said that Indian Railways soon will roll out Solar Powered Passengers Coaches.

The Chairman Railway Board Shri A. K. Mital in his address said Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, set up in 1955 ranks amongst industrial temples of modern India. The variety of coaches manufactured by ICF is astounding. It ranges from General second class coaches to latest air-conditioned coaches , air-conditioned EMUs, MEMUs, High Horse power DEMU Train sets etc. One of the current prestigious challenges before it is to produce a 160 kmph AC DEMU train sets which would be upgradable to 200 kmph. First train set is expected in the year 2016-17. Developing new products and ideas has been its strength. ICF is today capable of manufacturing about 1700 coaches a year, putting it amongst the majors in the World. ICF has not only supplied coaches to Indian Railways but also exported to other countries like 20 DEMU stainless steel train sets to Sri Lanka and built a brand for itself.

In his welcome address, Member Mechanical Shri Hemant Kumar said that ICF has produced 50,000 coaches since its inception in 1955 in approximately 500 different designs. ICF has turned out a record outturn of 1704 coaches during the year 2014-15 consisting of 44 variants involving high technological inputs, meticulous planning and execution.

Advisor Mechanical Railway Board Shri G.C. Agarwal, proposed vote of thanks.

ICF is credited with introducing several innovations over the years like provision of Braille signages in the coaches for the benefit of visually challenged persons, provision of CCTV cameras in the coaches, provision of bio-toilets in the coaches etc. ICF is also a fully green coach manufacturer as its entire power requirement is generated by its windmills located in Tuticorin. In fact it has a surplus power balance.

A new LBH manufacturing unit has been established at ICF for a cost of about Rs. 252 Crores to manufacture LHB type stainless steel coaches. This unit is equipped with the most modern machines like Laser cutting and welding machines, Welding robots and fixtures and different types of CNC machines, some of which only exist at this unit in the Country. This unit is a major contribution by Indian Railways in the “Make in India” drive. The new unit has a capacity to manufacture 300 LHB coaches per annum. The first LHB coach was turned out in Sept. 2014 and the plant is now fully stabilized and ready for enhancing its production over coming months. It is planned to completely switch over to LHB type coaches within next four to five years. LHB coaches provide world class features including safety, higher ride comfort and superior passenger amenities. Some major features of LHB coaches are listed below:

• Improved safety through better crashworthiness.

• Provision of Centre Buffer Couplers (CBC) for anti climbing feature.

• Higher Speed Potential as LHB coaches are running at 160 Kmph.

• Better passenger comfort due to improved riding quality.

• Reduction in noise level inside the coach through improved sound insulation.

• Use of environment friendly toilets.

This new unit has now been dedicated to the Nation by Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu.

****

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagging off the 50,000th coach manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Perambur, Chennai and dedicated the new LHB Coach Manufacturing Unit at ICF, Chennai to the Nation, through Video conferencing, at a function, in New Delhi on July 06, 2015. The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital is also seen.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu dedicating the 50,000th coach to the Nation through Video Conferencing, in New Delhi on July 06, 2015. The Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. V. K. Saraswat, the Member Mechanical Railway Board, Shri Hemant Kumar and the General Manager, ICF, Shri Ashok K. Agarwal are seen flagging off the coach at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu addressing after releasing the 50,000th coach manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Perambur, Chennai and dedicated the new LHB Coach Manufacturing Unit at ICF, Chennai to the Nation, through Video conferencing, at a function, in New Delhi on July 06, 2015. The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital is also seen.

In pic: 50,000th coach made at Integral Coach Factory.

In pic: 50,000th coach made at Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

In pic: ICF GM Ashok K Agarwal comes out of the coach which is among the last few batches of coaches that is made following design pioneered by ICF.

 

[Hindustani78]

Chennai Metro beats Namma Metro
6 Jul, 2015
Umesh R Yadav & Shilpa Elizabeth, ET Bureau

If speed of construction, connectivity to other transport hubs and non-disruption of existing road infrastructure are the parameters on which one would judge the Metro rail projects, Chennai - where Metro operations began recently on a 10-km stretch - may have outdone Namma Metro of Bengaluru.

Although the latter had a head-start over Chennai, it is bogged down by time and cost-overruns. Chennai appears to have learnt some right lessons from Bengaluru's follies...

Chennai: Project cost escalation
6 Jul, 2015
Rs 14,600 crore in 2007 to Rs 18,000 crore in 2015.

The commissioning comes after a delay of one and a half years with the original deadline being December 2013.

Bengaluru: Project cost escalation
6 Jul, 2015
Rs 11,609 crore in 2010 to Rs 13,845 crore in 2015.

Bengaluru Metro was originally scheduled to begin operations in March 2010. The revised target was December 2012.

Chennai: Speed of Construction
6 Jul, 2015
Work began in June 2009. The first 10 km from Koyambedu to Alandur became operational recently. Of the remaining 35 km, elevated stretches are expected to operate in stages by March 2016.

The project is expected to be complete in March 2017.

Bengaluru: Speed of Construction
6 Jul, 2015
The work on Phase-I started in April 20, 2007. The 6.7 km services started in October 20, 2011 between Baiyappanahalli to MG Road. The stretch has six stations.

Work on the 9.9 km Sampige Road-Peenya Industrial Area line started on July 15, 2009 and was opened on February 26, 2014. Work on the 2.2 km extension line from Jalahalli to Nagasandra began on August 10, 2011 and was inaugurated as recently as April 28 this year.

The underground stretches from Chickpet to Majestic (1,560 metres) and Mantri Square to Majestic (620 metre) are pending.

Chennai: Connectivity to other hubs
6 Jul, 2015
Phase-I covers 45 km. The 23-km stretch runs from the airport to Washermanpet in north Chennai. The other 22-km stretch runs from St.Thomas Mount to Chennai Central. The stretch inaugurated recently falls in the latter.

Planners have ensured that the Metro line connects other transportation hubs such as the airport, railway station, and bus terminus. This intermodal connectivity complements various models.

 

[Hindustani78]

Bengaluru: Connectivity to other hubs
6 Jul, 2015
The north-south corridor us 18.10 km out of which 4,82 km is underground and it is called the purple line. The east-west corridor is 24.20 km out of which 4 km is underground, and it is called the green line.

The two intersect at Majestic, the city's bus terminus. Although the Bangalore Central Railway Station is a stone's throw from here, the Metro is not linked to it. The international airport is not connected to the metro either.

Chennai: Disruption to existing road infrastructure
6 Jul, 2015
Thanks largely to its wider roads, disruption to traffic remained at a minimum. Planners did not allow Metro work to spill on to the roads.

As a result, the quality of road surfaces and usable road-width remained largely unaffected.

Bengaluru: Disruption to existing road infrastructure
6 Jul, 2015
Priority was given to Metro work over public convenience. Even a VIP road like Cubbon Road, which was closed in 2011, is yet to be opened for traffic. In other parts of the city such as KR Road, RV Road, CMH Road, Mysore Road, West of Chord Road, etc, both road quality and width suffered.

Safety precautions such as barricaded are absent at Metro constructions sites, with traffic veering dangerously close to heavy machinery.

New Delhi Metro

 

[saurav]

Metros getting built everywhere. but Kolkata is taking its own sweet time to start new line. WTF..

 

[Hindustani78]

Metros getting built everywhere. but Kolkata is taking its own sweet time to start new line. WTF..

The network consists of one operational line (Line 1) and one under construction (Line 2), with four further lines in various stages of planning.

In the final stage, the extension of Line 1 to an elevated corridor from Tollygunge to New Garia was constructed and opened in two phases, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar to Kavi Nazrul in 2009 and Kavi Nazrul to Kavi Subhash in 2010. The latest extension constructed was the 2.59 km elevated corridor from Dum Dum to Noapara on 10 July 2013.

 

[Hindustani78]

One of the four trains which were launched at a function at Nowgam Railway Station Srinagar.

 

[The Huskar]

One of the four trains which were launched at a function at Nowgam Railway Station Srinagar.

What type of Engine is that?

 

[Hindustani78]

What type of Engine is that?

SRINAGAR – Hailing the launch of four new train services in the Valley, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on Thursday stated that the completion of Katra-Banihal Railway Line will be an engineering marvel which will provide a vital all-weather link to Kashmir with the rest of the country.

He said improved rail connectivity in the state will bring in huge relief to the people who are suffering on account of frequent breakdown of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, especially in harsh winters. “Unseasonal rains this year have also taken a heavy toll on NH A-1 with some portions, in particular between Ramban and Banihal,” he stated.
The Chief Minister was speaking during the flagging off ceremony of four new train services, here today. With this, the total number of train services in Kashmir Valley has risen to 26.

The Chief Minister said linking of Jammu with Kashmir region by train was a fulfilment of a dream that seemed improbable some years ago. He said the project was a matter of great pride for which the Indian Railways had to overcome huge challenges. “Rail connectivity will change the lives of the people by promoting trade and tourism sectors,” he said.

Describing railways as the most preferred mode of transport for poor and common masses, the Chief Minister urged the Union Railway Minister to give special attention to Kashmir Railway Project so that the people of Valley also take benefit of the cheapest mode of transport. “It is my dream to see Kashmir connected with other parts of the country through a well-laid out network of trains,” he stated and added that it will be a turning point in the history of the state once we are able to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.

Referring to the positive impact the new train services will have on the state’s tourism sector, Mufti Sayeed said improved rail network will bring in cost effective and ease of travel which will boost tourist arrivals to the Valley. “For visitors, every train ride is a joy ride as the tracks traverse through the most beautiful parts of Kashmir valley,” he added.

As many as 30,000 people travel by trains every day on Banihal-Baramulla Railway Track.
The work on very difficult Katra-Banihal Track, spanning around 111 km, is in progress and is expected to be completed in the next four years. The entire length envisages construction of tunnels, flyovers and under-bridges, with one Arch Bridge over river Chenab between Kouri and Bakal, being the highest in the world.

Pointing towards the huge fillip the export-oriented horticulture industry will receive, Mufti Sayeed said the railway network will facilitate smooth movement of fruits to the terminal markets and mandis in other parts of the country. “The fruit growers, who along with the Handicraft industry resuscitated our economy during turbulent years, will get greater value of their produce and a level-playing field to market their crop because of railways,” he said.

Stating that a dedicated rail network will unlock vast opportunities of employment for our youth in various sectors, the Chief Minister urged the Union Railway Minister to consider employment for those whose land was acquired for laying of tracks. “I have been told that a few persons have been provided jobs in Indian Railways but many more whose land has been acquired should also be employed as they have lost their means of livelihood,” he stated.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Railway Minister, described connectivity as the best indicator of development and railway as the best mode of connectivity. He assured that he will leave no stone unturned to see that Katra-Banhial Railway Line is completed within the stipulated timeframe. “Kashmir has unique things like cuisine and handicrafts to offer and railways will provide a perfect platform to market these,” he assured.

Minister of State for Railways, in his address, said the frequency of train services will be increased in the near future for which additional coaches are being pressed into service.

Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Union Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha, Minister for Revenue, Javaid Mustafa Mir, Minister for Transport, A. G. Kohli, Minister of State for Revenue & Public Works, Sunil Kumar Sharma, MP. Shamsher Singh Manhas, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas and Chairman, Railway Board, A. K. Mittal, besides several senior officers of the State Government and Indian Railways were present on the occasion.

 

[Bombaywalla]

Here's a map of the location of all the coach factories that currently deliver, have delivered, or will deliver to Indian MRT systems.

Plants in India:

cc: IU

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagging off the newly constructed Gandhidham – Tuna Tekra Rail line, through Video conferencing from Rail Bhavan, in New Delhi on July 14, 2015. The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital and other Board Members are also seen.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu addressing after flagging off the newly constructed Gandhidham – Tuna Tekra Rail line, through Video conferencing from Rail Bhavan, in New Delhi on July 14, 2015. The Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital and other Board Members are also seen.

 

[fenku]

Is Chennai losing out to SriCity? - Livemint

 

[Hindustani78]

Updated: July 16, 2015 15:37 IST
Proposal to redevelop 400 railway stations gets Cabinet nod - The Hindu

Work on the installation of escalator going on at a platform in Tirupati railway station. File photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for redevelopment of the railway stations on ‘as is where is’ basis.
A proposal to redevelop about 400 railways stations in metros and major cities besides pilgrim centres and tourist spots was cleared by the government on Thursday.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for redevelopment of the railway stations on ‘as is where is’ basis to accelerate the process of revamping them.

Under this model, interested parties coming through open bids would develop the stations with their designs and business ideas while commercial development of real estate would be allowed by the Zonal Railways.

The ‘as is where is’ model would entail a much simpler process for faster redevelopment, with more focus on vertical expansion.

“The ‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category stations (about 400) shall be offered for redevelopment by inviting open bids from interested parties.

“These stations are to be developed by leveraging real estate development of land and air space in and around the stations,” a government statement said, adding that the model would also encourage innovative ideas from interested parties “at no cost to the railways”.

These categories of stations are generally located in metros, major cities, pilgrimage centres and important tourist destinations across the country.

The ‘as is where is’ model was floated by the Railways to redevelop a large number of stations as the Indian Stations Development Corporation could undertake redevelopment of only some identified stations in the country, the statement said.

Earlier moves to redevelop the stations and transforming them into world-class facilities had met “little success”.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had observed that the existing processes for redevelopment are time-consuming as there are several stages involved.

They include ‘inception and pre-feasibility report’, appointment of architect, technical consultants, financial and legal consultants, in-principle approval of local authorities, request for qualification, shortlisting of bidders, and request for technical proposals.