Charminar Express, running between Hyderabad and MGR Chennai Central, is the latest train to be provided with Head on Generation (HOG) hauled by electric traction including lighting and air-conditioning with the modern LHB coaches.
HOG reduces costs and both air and noise pollution as it substitutes the need for having two power cars for coach lighting and AC. Earlier, the Charminar Express was running with traditional coaches and electric traction power from end to end.
With this, nine of the 10 trains scheduled to be converted into total LHB coaches and HOG technology in the first phase has been completed. Rayalaseema Express is currently running partly on diesel and partly with HOG within the electrified section, informed senior railway officials on Monday.
The other trains running on HOG are include Vikrama Simhapuri Amaravati Express (12744/12743), Telangana Express (12723/12724), Tirupati-JammuTawi Humsafar Express (22705/22706), Double Decker Express (22708/22707), Narayanadri Express (12733/12734), Secunderabad-Nagpur Express (12771/12772), Secunderabad-Sirpur Khagaznagar Express(12757/12758), Secunderabad-Guntur (12705/12706) and Lingampalli-Vijayawada Intercity Express (12795/12796).
Fuel consumption for these 10 trains per annum was around 49.7 lakh litres incurring a cost of more than ₹35 crore and now electrical energy consumption cost for these trains is only ₹5.7 crore per annum. Thus, the estimated savings for Railways on account of introduction of HOG these trains comes to ₹29.3 crore per annum.
SCR General Manager Gajanan Mallya advised officers and staff to expedite installation process of HOG-compatible equipment in the electrical locomotives and also to replace the existing traditional coaches with all new LHB in remaining trains.
Safety inspections
In a separate meeting with divisional managers, he called for intensifying safety inspections over the zone to maintain highest safety standards and priority for protection of workstations where men work near tracks in emergency situations.
