Indian Railways

[ArjunMK1A]

Is converting Diesel engine into Electcic feasible? What percentage of similarity in parts?

They are using the shell only I believe. They tried and lot of them not even approved for production.

So we can say mostly failed.

 

[ArjunMK1A]

What is stopping India from retiring crappy trains like Shat(lol)abdi and others and making everything into Vande Bharat? Also btw, Vande Bharat average speed is on par with Amtrak. Amtrak is 1970s era technology. This is a good thing, but, India has much to catch up on still.

Agree with your comment on having multiple trains but doing the same service.

Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi should be stopped and VB should take over as singletrains with multiple timings between cities.

Also MEMU should be increased between smaller cities and Capitals. Should have ACs.

Superfast/Express distinction needs to be removed. Just single Overnight express trains with 3AC setting. Pricing should be 1-1.5 Rs per KM. Also increase the speed from current measly 55 km to somewhere around 85 kmph.

Vande Metro needed more. Can be used as upmarket replacement in certain sections.

Rajdhani, Duronto, Sampark kranti should be replaced by VB Sleeper. Except Rajdhani remove 2AC and have 14 3AC and 2 1AC (Rename as Business class) on the other two trains.

But main things. Increase MPS in all critical routes like Del-Mum, Del-Chn, Del-Kol, Chn-Mum etc. Then station yard remodelling to allow seamless entry exit for trains.

IR should be an Track maintenance companies, Introduce multiple train operators like in Europe, Government should have an say by making IRCTC as government owned train operators followed by other Private operators.

Break Rail factories and make them as separate PSU with corporatization.


Also IR should be made to concentrate on only Maintenance of Tracks rather than running trains which they don't want to do and also bleed money.

 

[Azaad]

They are using the shell only I believe. They tried and lot of them not even approved for production.

So we can say mostly failed.

So practically the entire lot of diesel locomotives we have is going to be scrapped?

 

[crazywithmath]

View: https://youtu.be/rwZUsakbG1Y?si=dNxZVMO5cYEwwNZ1

This is a very informative interview with Mr Balakesari veteran Railwayman & ex Railway Board Member who's stridently criticised the haste with which electrification of the entire system was undertaken.

While I don't quite agree with his logic of comparing "coal based vs diesel based railway," using terminology he's used to describe this phenomenon of replacing the latter with the former , this one move has led to us stabling ( resting locomotives permanently in car sheds akin to the IAF retiring planes , keeping them in reserve) 2500 diesel locomotives @upto INR 50 cr per unit = INR 1,25,000/-

What a collosal waste of resources ?!

I don't get it! You will always need diesel locos, no? What if multiple grids are affected? What if a war breaks out? One reasonable point we could make is that electrifying minor branch lines made little economic sense (unlike in mainline where it helped save fuel costs).

 

[Azaad]

I don't get it! You will always need diesel locos, no? What if multiple grids are affected? What if a war breaks out? One reasonable point we could make is that electrifying minor branch lines made little economic sense (unlike in mainline where it helped save fuel costs).

Brozzer you missed a couple of pages of furious debate. I'd urge you to go thru them before arriving at a conclusion.

 

[Azaad]

https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/indian-railways-partners-with-rkfl-twl-to-reduce-reliance-on-china-125011001278_1.html

 

[londonparistokyo]

I can understand price consciousness and all but I don't understand the need for 100 different train types. We have people of different economic strata here in the USA as well but everybody takes the same train. Also there should not be any distinction with AC v non-AC. In a hot, humid climate such as India, AC has a lot of benefits besides just cooling. Can reduce mosquito nuisance while you're inside as well amongst others

 

[Vishnugupt]

I can understand price consciousness and all but I don't understand the need for 100 different train types.

What kind of dumb statment is this?? You are understanding price consciousness and all but can't understand reason behind different types of trains in india??

Actually you understand none. Apart from paying 5000 rupees for physician in India tell us more about 100 types of trains in india???

In USA or West you barely travel 10-15 times a year by National trains. But in India you people travel 100 times a year. That's why you need more diverse train system in india than land of Gl0b0h0m0s.

People in India value money over comfort ( unlike Brown Sipoy keep on crying for everything) so it is justified having cheap trains ( General or Passanger train).

Basically India have 4-5 types of trains for long haul.

Passanger train ( Cheapest )
mail ( sleeper class)
Express ( sleeper but less stations)

Satabdi is a chair car to connect state capitals for business trips ( daytime travel only)

Rajdhani express is sleeper , night time, long haul.

A population, size of Australia and Newzealand travel in Indian train any given time so diversity is must to match expectations from every section of society.

 

[Blademaster]

What kind of dumb statment is this?? You are understanding price consciousness and all but can't understand reason behind different types of trains in india??

Actually you understand none. Apart from paying 5000 rupees for physician in India tell us more about 100 types of trains in india???

In USA or West you barely travel 10-15 times a year by National trains. But in India you people travel 100 times a year. That's why you need more diverse train system in india than land of Gl0b0h0m0s.

People in India value money over comfort ( unlike Brown Sipoy keep on crying for everything) so it is justified having cheap trains ( General or Passanger train).

Basically India have 4-5 types of trains for long haul.

Passanger train ( Cheapest )
mail ( sleeper class)
Express ( sleeper but less stations)

Satabdi is a chair car to connect state capitals for business trips ( daytime travel only)

Rajdhani express is sleeper , night time, long haul.

A population, size of Australia and Newzealand travel in Indian train any given time so diversity is must to match expectations from every section of society.

The issue with different type of cars is lack of scale for maintenance and it means more costs for maintenance. If you can reduce the type of cars and bring more of the same type you get economy of scale, efficiency and less costly maintenance. Take a look at China and see how they did it. They do not have over 100 types of cars but simply made the fewest they could and forced its system to adapt to the few types they have and the result is simply gigantic. They built their bullet trains when their economy was basically the size of today India’s economy and forced its population to accept this system.

 

[Vishnugupt]

The issue with different type of cars is lack of scale for maintenance and it means more costs for maintenance. If you can reduce the type of cars and bring more of the same type you get economy of scale, efficiency and less costly maintenance. Take a look at China and see how they did it. They do not have over 100 types of cars but simply made the fewest they could and forced its system to adapt to the few types they have and the result is simply gigantic. They built their bullet trains when their economy was basically the size of today India’s economy and forced its population to accept this system.

India is also in transition.
There will Bande Bharat chair car and sleepers only in the future for major routes.

LHB coaches will be used in cheap Passanger trains.