In a move that will help
increase the number of rakes
on trains from nine cars to 12,
Western Railway (WR) will
switch from the 1,500 volt
Direct Current (DC) to the 25,000 volt energy-saving
Alternating Current (AC)
traction system on February 5. WR authorities had carried out
the DC to AC conversion on the
section between Vile Parle
and Borivli on November 13.
But the move to convert the
remaining section up to Churchgate was delayed. The
section will be blocked for
approximately five to six hours
during the day for the
conversion to take place. The commissioner of railway
safety (CRS), Western Circle,
had refused to grant approval
unless the height of 10 bridges
was raised to ensure an
adequate gap between the bridge base and the overhead
wires. WR then sought a
waiver from the railway
ministry to overturn CRS's
objections if safety is not
compromised. The waiver was granted. Sharat Chandrayan, chief PRO
of WR said: "Commuters will
be informed about the block
and timings of trains well in
advance. We will also run
special services. Once the Churchgate-Borivli stretch is
converted to AC, it will
integrate the suburban system
with other sections." As of
now, 1,002 services ply using
12-car rakes, while 12 services are run with 15-car trains. WR
uses seven 9-car rakes (100
services). With the conversion,
WR will net carbon credits
worth Rs 2 crore a year
because it utilizes rakes with regenerative braking features,
that can help save up to 30%
energy as the traction motor
feeds some of the current back
into the supply system.
increase the number of rakes
on trains from nine cars to 12,
Western Railway (WR) will
switch from the 1,500 volt
Direct Current (DC) to the 25,000 volt energy-saving
Alternating Current (AC)
traction system on February 5. WR authorities had carried out
the DC to AC conversion on the
section between Vile Parle
and Borivli on November 13.
But the move to convert the
remaining section up to Churchgate was delayed. The
section will be blocked for
approximately five to six hours
during the day for the
conversion to take place. The commissioner of railway
safety (CRS), Western Circle,
had refused to grant approval
unless the height of 10 bridges
was raised to ensure an
adequate gap between the bridge base and the overhead
wires. WR then sought a
waiver from the railway
ministry to overturn CRS's
objections if safety is not
compromised. The waiver was granted. Sharat Chandrayan, chief PRO
of WR said: "Commuters will
be informed about the block
and timings of trains well in
advance. We will also run
special services. Once the Churchgate-Borivli stretch is
converted to AC, it will
integrate the suburban system
with other sections." As of
now, 1,002 services ply using
12-car rakes, while 12 services are run with 15-car trains. WR
uses seven 9-car rakes (100
services). With the conversion,
WR will net carbon credits
worth Rs 2 crore a year
because it utilizes rakes with regenerative braking features,
that can help save up to 30%
energy as the traction motor
feeds some of the current back
into the supply system.
