Indian Railways: The lifeline of the nation

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Indian Railways mission, Oxygen Express has come as a boon in curbing the oxygen crisis that has emerged following the sudden spike in...
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demand for medical oxygen. In these unprecedented times, Indian Railways is working around the clock to help the country to combat Covid-19.

Railway Electrification

Indian Railways, the country's lifeline, is leading the charge to reduce the country's reliance on petroleum-based resources by rapidly electrifying railway tracks. The Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) has contributed the bulk in the overall electrification process in recent years.

By March 31, 2021, Railways had electrified 45,881 Route kilometres (RKM), around 71% of the total Broad-Gauge(BG) network of Indian Railways. This was formed in 1979 under the Ministry of Railways with the primary goal of electrifying railway tracks. By December 2023, CORE intends to electrify all of the Indian Railways BG routes.

Today, the seven major trunk routes connecting Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, six are fully electrified and work is in progress on the remaining. CORE has nine project units operating in Ahmedabad, Ambala, Bangalore, Chennai, Danapur, Jaipur, Lucknow, New Jalpaiguri, and Secunderabad to electrify critical railway routes in order to maximise the benefits.

The pace of electrification has accelerated in recent years, with a total of 24,080 RKM electrified since 2014. Out of 45,881 RKM, 34% have been electrified so far in the last three years.

Despite the pandemic, Indian Railways has also commissioned a record 56 TSSs (Traction Sub Stations) in 2020-21, compared to a previous best of 42 reporting an increase by 33%.

Electrical traction Systems

Electrical traction refers to a system that uses electricity for traction, such as trams, trolleys, and other vehicles etc. The term "track electrification" refers to the type of power source used while powering electric locomotive systems. It can be AC(Alternating Current) or DC(Direct Current) or a composite supply.

History

Electrical traction is a pollution-free, energy-efficient mode of transportation that provides a viable alternative to fossil fuels as a source of energy. Railways were first electrified in 1925 with a 1500 volt DC system, which was later upgraded to a 3000 volt DC system. By 1936, 388 route kilometres had been electrified.

In 1957, Indian Railways decided to adopt a 25 KV AC traction system, and choose main lines and high-density routes that were systematically energised.

Advantages of Railway Electrification

Energy Conservation

Electric traction is the most energy-efficient mode of rail transport. This can be seen in the fact that every 100 route kilometres electrified segment saves more than four million litres of diesel oil per year, amounting to a savings of Rs. 2,500 crores.

Technology Upgradation

The introduction of railway electrification has accelerated technological advancement as the adoption of cutting-edge technologies also improves signalling and telecommunication networks. Now, Optical Fibre Cable is used in modern communication technology.

Role of Electric Traction in Suburban Transport

Electrification has made possible the introduction of Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) services in many suburban areas.EMUs are suitable for suburban services that need higher acceleration and braking capabilities due to repeated starts and stops. In Mumbai city alone, over 1,950 EMU trains operate daily on the Central and Western Railways' suburban lines, carrying over 5 million passengers a day. These services have become extremely popular.

The Indian Railways not only carries passengers and goods, but it also weaves the whole country together. Almost every Indian is linked to the Indian Railways, either directly or indirectly. Electrification of railway lines in the country has greatly aided the oxygen express's ability to arrive at its destination on scheduled time.