Indian Railways moves for greener environment

GUWAHATI: In line with the decision of Indian Railways to adopt 'Head on Generation' (HOG) technology on all 'Linke Hofmann Busch' (LHB) coach fitted trains; NFR has already started taking the required initiatives in this direction. From July 15, 2020, two trains -- 05956 Delhi – Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail Spl and 02502 New Delhi – Agartala Rajdhani Spl -- started running with HOG technology for journey up to New Jalpaiguri. During the return journey also, both the trains will run on the HOG technology. Now, generator cars of both the trains will be kept in shutdown condition from Delhi to New Jalpaiguri and back. The entire electrical load of AC, lights, fans and other electrical equipments of the complete rake will be taken from train engine running on electric traction, thereby saving lot of diesel during journey.

The new technology will not only help to reduce the power costs for running trains but will also help provide a cleaner environment for our future generations to come. The diesel fuel saving in these two trains on this account is expected to be around 1132 Kilo Litre per annum, thereby saving diesel fuel cost of approx. Rs. 7.16 crore per annum.

The present LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches have been designed to run on the 'End on Generation' (EOG) system with two power cars employing two DG sets on either end. They are being modified to run on HOG technology. In NFR, of the total 49 LHB rakes, 23 rakes have been made as HOG compliant and shall be put in operation as and when the train services are started. The remaining 26 LHB rakes have also been planned to be converted as HOG compliant during current year 2020-21, stated a release.

In this new system, power supply will be tapped from the overhead power lines through pantograph to the train engine which will then be distributed to the coaches for train lighting, air conditioning, fans and other equipment that runs on the electrical power supply. As the entire NF Railway portion has been sanctioned for railway electrification; the trains of NF Railway with LHB coaches are being modified in various depots and trial run are also being conducted. There will be better reliability due to reduced number of power generating equipments, low maintenance and reduced train weight. The power generator cars which are being used presently consume about 100 litres of diesel per hour, so there is substantial operating expenditure apart from huge noise, fume emission during run.

With changeover to this new HOG technology, there will be huge savings in fuel bill, thereby saving precious foreign exchange towards import of fuel. Moreover diesel generators also pollute the air by producing about 1724.6 tons of CO2 and 7.48 tons of NOX per annum apart from producing about 100db of noise. With new HOG technology, there will be zero emission of CO2 and NOX apart from it being noiseless, the release added.

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