4:25 PM
Central Railway plans DC/AC switch in May
MUMBAI: Central Railway plans to switch from 1,500 V direct current
(DC) to 25 KV alternating current (AC) on the entire suburban railway
stretch between Thane and CST by May, offering faster and more efficient
services. The deadline was set after railway board member Kul Bhusan
took stock of the conversion project last week.
"We have set an internal target of April-May for the conversion. But the switch on Harbour line will be carried out subsequently," CR's general manager S K Sood said. The switch on the Main line is expected to improve efficiency of services, bring down breakdowns as well as help the railway save around Rs 120 crore per annum from reduced transmission loss and conserve 33% energy.
A part of the railway network—from LTT-Thane till Kalyan and beyond—have already been converted from DC to AC. A senior official said, "Till now, we run two types of rakes as trains between Thane and CST still operate on DC system."
The Main line has 75 rakes, 65 of which can run on both AC and DC traction. The remaining 10 rakes are DC-compatible and are used on the CST-Thane section only. "We have to deal with operational problems as DC rakes cannot enter the AC territory. The switch to AC will allow us phase out retro-ffited trains, which are old and so, prone to breakdowns. AC rakes will increase efficiency of the system," an official said. "The railway board has assured supply of enough AC-compatible rakes before we go in for the switchover."
Switchover date from DC to AC traction: May, 2014
Main Line Services: 825 (809 12-car and 16 15-car services)
Number of Rakes: 75
AC-DC rakes: 65
DC rakes: 10
Savings from reduced transmission loss and regenerative braking: Rs 120 crore
Advantage of AC over DC traction:
Maintenance-related failures will come down as 75 sub-stations are needed to supply power to suburban trains under the DC system, while only 11 sub-stations are required for the AC system. The AC system needs lighter overhead wires than that of DC, which has thicker and heavier contact wires and pantographs that are prone to fast wear and tear
"We have set an internal target of April-May for the conversion. But the switch on Harbour line will be carried out subsequently," CR's general manager S K Sood said. The switch on the Main line is expected to improve efficiency of services, bring down breakdowns as well as help the railway save around Rs 120 crore per annum from reduced transmission loss and conserve 33% energy.
A part of the railway network—from LTT-Thane till Kalyan and beyond—have already been converted from DC to AC. A senior official said, "Till now, we run two types of rakes as trains between Thane and CST still operate on DC system."
The Main line has 75 rakes, 65 of which can run on both AC and DC traction. The remaining 10 rakes are DC-compatible and are used on the CST-Thane section only. "We have to deal with operational problems as DC rakes cannot enter the AC territory. The switch to AC will allow us phase out retro-ffited trains, which are old and so, prone to breakdowns. AC rakes will increase efficiency of the system," an official said. "The railway board has assured supply of enough AC-compatible rakes before we go in for the switchover."
Switchover date from DC to AC traction: May, 2014
Main Line Services: 825 (809 12-car and 16 15-car services)
Number of Rakes: 75
AC-DC rakes: 65
DC rakes: 10
Savings from reduced transmission loss and regenerative braking: Rs 120 crore
Advantage of AC over DC traction:
Maintenance-related failures will come down as 75 sub-stations are needed to supply power to suburban trains under the DC system, while only 11 sub-stations are required for the AC system. The AC system needs lighter overhead wires than that of DC, which has thicker and heavier contact wires and pantographs that are prone to fast wear and tear
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