Modern signalling system installed at Bharatwada station

Nagpur: The Nagpur division of Central Railway has, for the first time, commissioned electronic interlocking signalling (EIS) system at Bharatwada station near Nagpur for smooth and accurate train operations.

The electronic system is a shift from conventional route relay interlocking (RRI) system. The existing signalling system at Bharatwada was 30 years old and needed to be replaced.

“We plan to install similar system in Godhni. The advantage of EIS is that operation time of trains can be regulated to seconds,” said Manoj Kumar Sinha, senior divisional signalling and telecommunication engineer (Sr.DSTE).

Of the 101 railway stations in the division, only two – Gudan Khapa and Tadali – have the age-old level pulling system, while 94 have panel interlocking (PI) systems, five stations – Nagpur, Amla, Ballarshah, Sevagram and Ajni- have RRI systems. Of late, the Railway Board has decided to gradually shift to EIS. To start with, small stations are being taken up first to gauge its success.

Sinha said EIS was a microprocessor based system occupying less space. It consumes less power and is more reliable, safer and easy to install and maintain.

“The conventional systems require large number of relays, complex wirings, thousands of soldered joints and they are susceptible to failures,” said Sinha. After its installation on October 28, no signal failure has been reported. The staff was being trained to operate the new system, he added.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Brijesh Dixit was himself keen to expedite installation of the system. “The EIS was commissioned in three hours while it takes days for commissioning conventional signalling system,” Dixit said.

Sinha said the best part of EIS was that it had a standby facility and could be operated through conventional operating panel.

Source..railnews

Great rail journeys that exist only in fantasy

A rail tunnel has opened under the Bosphorus, offering tantalising possibilities for rail anoraks, writes Tom de Castella.

"Anything is possible on a train," wrote Paul Theroux in the Great Railway Bazaar, "a great meal, a binge, a visit from card players, an intrigue, a good night's sleep, and strangers' monologues framed like Russian short stories."

For fans of great train journeys the possibilities have just magnified. A rail tunnel has opened under the Bosphorus, the strait separating Europe from Asia.

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who opened the new line, declared it would connect "London to Beijing".

The Turkish PM was perhaps getting caught up in the moment. At the moment it's a suburban railway linking both sides of Istanbul. And there's a much easier way to get to China - the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing.

A rail trip across Asia via Istanbul is intriguing though, says Mark Smith, founder of website The Man in Seat 61. Once bits of engineering work in Turkey are finished, you'll be able to board a train at St Pancras and - after a few connections - alight about 10 days later in Bangladesh. That's if you're not assassinated by bandits in southern Iran or al-Qaeda in Pakistan, he adds.

The Bosphorus tunnel offers other intriguing possibilities. Since the late 19th Century there's been a plan to build a railway between Cairo and Cape Town. There are now railways between Nairobi and Cape Town. If Africa's northern section was built, one could hop on a train in London, and via Istanbul, Syria - remember this is a train lover's utopian vision - and Egypt, reach the Cape some time later.

The longest journey Smith has done is Moscow to Vladivostok, which takes seven days. "Even I was going a bit stir crazy by the end. There's an awful lot of birch trees."

Changing scenery is a must, says Matthew Engel, author of Eleven Minutes Late. So is interesting company. On that score Amtrak in the US wins, he says.

Outside the densely populated north east, few Americans use the trains. "The people who do are a little bit, sometimes very, eccentric. And enormous fun." The trains are notoriously slow - "40 plus" hours from Chicago to LA. "It's like being on a cruise ship except no-one is boring."

Source..BBC

‘Need for rail overbridge in Hampi’

Y. Yamunesh, former member of the Divisional Rail Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC) and K. Mahesh, member, Station Consultative Committee, Hospet, highlighted the need for the construction of a rail overbridge at Anantashayanagudi to ensure free movement of vehicular traffic towards Hampi.

In a memorandum submitted to the Bellary Deputy Commissioner, they pointed out the absence of a rail overbridge has led to severe traffic issues posing trouble to tourists heading towards Hampi.

Lauded

Mr. Yamunesh welcomed the Railway Department’s move to upgrade 24 railway stations, including Hampi. He urged Union Minister for Railways M. Mallikarjun Kharge to accord equal priority to the construction of the rail overbridge for the benefit of the people.

Source..the hindu

Convention of railway pensioners

ALLAHABAD: The 51st annual convention of All India Retired Railway Men's Federation was organised in the city on Sunday in which many railway pensioners from across the country participated.

Speaking as the chief guest, former chairman of Railway Board GK Khare said there is need for unity among the pensioners so that they can fight for their rights. "Seeing this tremendous crowd of pensioners in the convention, I am of the firm belief that you all will fight for your rights with honesty, dedication and definitely achieve your goals," he said.

President of AIRRMF YN Shastri praised the people of Allahabad for organising such a programme. He too

stressed on promoting unity among the pensioners spread all over the country. Speaking on the occasion, convenor of the programme and zonal president of AIRRMF Kishan Singh said, "There is need for development of an effective mechanism and work plan so that pensioners can get their legal rights."

People who were present in the programme included general secretary of AIRF Shiv Gopal Mishra, general secretary of NCRMU RD Yadav, SN Prasad, Shayam Sunder Singh Patel and others.

Source..times of india

Railway officials-MPs meet discusses rail issues in state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The work on the Palakkad Rail Coach factory will commence once the railway finds a private partner, Southern Railway general manager Rakesh Misra said here on Friday.

After a meeting with the members of Parliament from the state, to discuss the issues regarding railway development in the state, Misra said a tender had been floated inviting private players to join hands with the railways for implementing the project.

Misra said the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation will submit the detailed project report on setting up the suburban train service corridor in December. A master plan for the development of Ernakulam railway station is being prepared by the railways, he said.

The general manager said more than land acquisition, unavailability of sand was hindering the railway developmental activities in the state.

Meanwhile, many MPs cutting across party lines said the timing of the meeting was not proper as most of the MPs had various standing committee meetings in New Delhi on Friday.

"The agenda notes were given to us only in the morning of the meeting day. Also, the action taken report on the issues raised during last year's meeting was not given," MP A Sampath said. The projects that have been declared have to be implemented before taking up something new. This meeting is just a mockery, Sampath said.

MP K N Balagopal raised the issue of the poor quality of food being supplied in trains and brought to notice the recent incidents of food poisoning in long-distance trains from the state.

MPs M K Raghavan, E T Muhammed Basheer, P K Biju, C P Narayanan, K P Dhanapalan, P T Thomas, M I Shanawas, Peethambara Kurup, MP representing Kanyakumari constituency Helen Davidson and Union ministers Shashi Tharoor and K C Venugopal, also attended the meeting.

Source..times of india

Railways to fill up vacant posts on fast track mode

NEW DELHI: Newly appointed Chairman Railway Board (CRB) Arunendra Kumar today said vacant slots, including the key posts, will be filled up on a "fast track" mode.

Steps will be taken to fill all the vacancies on a fast track mode now, Kumar said here. 

Kumar assumed charge yesterday as CRB, a post which remained vacant for three months. 

The posts of Financial Commissioner (FC), Member Staff (MS) and Member Mechanical (MM) are lying vacant in the Railway Board for several months. 

The appointment of FC will be done in two to three days and Member Mechanical post will also be filled up shortly, Kumar, who is also holding the additional charge of MM, said. 

Asked about the appointments of General Managers, he said it is expected to be done before Diwali. 

While nine General Managers' posts are awaiting posting, about 25 Divisional Railway Managers (DRM) are waiting to be replaced. 

Senior appointments in railways are in the focus after the arrest of Member (Staff) Mahesh Kumar by CBI in May for allegedly trying to become Member (Electrical), perceived to be a lucrative post, through bribe. 

Kumar was suspended after the arrest and the post of Member (Staff) is lying vacant since then. He was released from jail on a bail recently. 

According to railway sources, another officer will be appointed as new Member (Staff) on the ad hoc basis. 

On revoking suspension of Kumar, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to constitute a three-member committee to examine the issue after taking clearance from the CBI. 

Source - economic times

Rules for House Building Advance (HBA) for Indian Railway Employees

HBA is admissible to : 

• A Permanent railway employee or a temporary Railway employee with 10 years of service. 
• Officers of all India services (IAS, IPS, IFS) on deputation to the Railways continuously for 6 years. 
• If both Husband and wife are Railway employees, advance is admissible to any one of them. Where a house-site is owned jointly by husband and wife, amount will be sanctioned only if both agree to mortgage the same to Government. 
• If both Husband and wife are Government Servants, the pay of both of them will be taken into consideration for calculating the ceiling limit. 
• A Railway employee under suspension may be granted HBA on furnishing collateral security in the shape of mortgage bond from two permanent Railway employees. 

HBA is granted for the following purposes: 

• Purchase of a plot for construction of a house. 
• Construction of a house on a plot already owned by a Railway employee or jointly with his/her spouse. 
• Enlargement of an existing house. 
• Purchase of a ready built house of flat. 
• Repayment of loan taken from Govt/private sources for constructing a house. 

Cost ceiling 

134 times pay in Pay Band subject to a minimum of 7.5 Lakh and maximum of 30 Lakhs. 

Amount of Advance 

• 34 times the Basic Pay + Grade Pay or Rs. 7,50,000 or the actual cost or repaying capacity whichever is less. 
• For enlargement of an existing house, 34 times the Basic Pay + Grade Pay or Rs. 1,80,000 or the actual cost whichever is less. 
• In case of construction of a house in rural area, the amount of advance is 80% of the actual cost of construction and land. 
• For purchase of plot/land and mount not exceeding 20% of advance in case of single storied and 15% in case of double storied is permitted.

Rate of Interest

• Upto Rs. 50,000 5%
• Upto Rs. 1,50,000 6.5%
• Upto Rs. 5,00,000 8.5%
• Upto Rs. 7,50,000 9.5%

• Penal interest of 2.5% for violating conditions. 
• 0.5% reduction for promoting small family norms. 
• Rate of interest prevalent on the date of release of advance/first instalment shall be applicable. 

Recovery

• Principal - 180 months
• Interest - 60 months

NOTE - 

Purchase of land and construct house – The following month of completing construction or 24 months after granting first installment whichever is earlier.

Construction of house – The following month of completing construction or 18 months after granting first installment whichever is earlier.

Source: Indian Railway Employee

Cadre Restructuring Orders - MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

Cadre Restructuring Orders - S & T, MECHANICAL & STORE DEPARTMENT

Cadre Restructuring Orders - COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

SOURCE - www.railnewscenter.com

Cadre Restructuring Orders - TRAFFIC TRANSPORTATION & POWER DEPARTMENT

SOURCE - www.railnewscenter.com

PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS ORDERS LETTER ISSUED BY RAILWAY BOARD.

देश का सबसे शक्तिशाली रेल इंजन तैयार

जागरण संवाददाता, वाराणसी : अपने स्थापना की स्वर्ण जयंती मना रहे डीएलडब्ल्यू (डीजल लोकोमोटिव व‌र्क्स) ने एक और उपलब्धि हासिल की है। अपनी विकास यात्रा के 50 वसंत देख चुके डीरेका ने अब तक की सबसे अधिक क्षमता वाला और आकार के लिहाज से अब तक का सबसे बड़ा रेल इंजन, कारखाने की पटरी पर उतारा है।

खासियत यह भी है कि भीमकाय कद बुत को ध्यान में रखकर 'भीम' नाम से लांच किया गया इंजन पूरी तरह वातानुकूलित और काम तथा सुरक्षा की ढेर सी आधुनिक सुविधाओं से सुसज्जित है। इंजन में पहली बार पॉयलट के लिए प्रसाधन गृह, आटोमैटिक ब्रेक आदि की सुविधाएं दी गई हैं। चालक को अगर नींद आ गई तो इंजन खुद ठहर जाएगा।

5500 हार्सपावर का यह इंजन पटरियों पर दौड़ने के लिए तैयार है। बस, अंतिम परीक्षण और हरी झंडी का इंतजार है। डीरेका अब तक 4500, 4000 एचपी और अलको डिजाइन में 1350 से 3300 तक की क्षमता वाले एचपी का इंजन बना चुका है।

विदेशों में भी सेवा

डीरेका में निर्मित इंजन बंाग्लादेश, श्रीलंका, म्यांमार, तंजानिया, वियतनाम आदि देशों को निर्यात किये जाते हैं। डीरेका इंजन के कल पुर्जे भी निर्यात करता है। अब तो डीरेका एडवांस पेमेंट लेने के बाद ही विदेशों के लिए इंजन बनाता है।

शास्त्री जी ने किया था पहले इंजन का उद्घाटन

डीरेका में निर्मित पहले इंजन का उद्घाटन पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्व. लाल बहादुर शास्त्री ने जनवरी 1964 में किया था।

इंजन की खास बातें

- पायलट का केबिन वातानुकूलित

- पहली बार इंजन में प्रसाधन केंद्र

- हाई ब्रेक का प्रयोग

- कम से कम स्पीड 105 किमी

- चालक नींद में तो गाड़ी खड़ी

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मालगाड़ी के लिए उपयोगी

यह इंजन फिलहाल मालगाड़ी के लिए ज्यादा उपयोगी है। क्षमता अधिक होने के कारण यह इंजन, ज्यादा वैगन लंबी दूरी तक ले जा सकेगा। यह उपलब्धि डीरेका के साथ बनारस की भी है।

-मनीष कुमार गुप्ता

मुख्य जनसंपर्क अधिकारी, डीरेका।

Source..jagran