CR : Removes two crucial flaws in rakes

CR : Removes two crucial flaws in rakes

Mumbai : Travel will be safer for well over three million commuters on the Central Railway rail network as it has success identified and removed two serious flaws on its EMU rakes.

One is the auxiliary warning system (AWS). "AWS is a vital system whose malfunctioning results in detention of trains and on occasions adversely affects their safety. The flaw was identified and it has been rectified. It needs some modernisation. We will complete the entire exercise in two to three months and there will be perceptible improvement in the functioning of the system,'' Said M C Chauhan, divisional railway manager, central railway.

AWS has been provided on all EMU rakes to avoid missing signal and controlling the speed of the train as per signal aspect. The system provided by Siemens has been in service for last 19 years. While a total of 50 to 60 AWS-related cases were reported per day, in 50% of cases the malfunctioning could not be detected, despite several efforts. "The problem was studied in detail and field measurements were carried out at different locations. It was established that the malfunctioning was due to electromagnetic interference owing to flow of traction return current through the axle where the AWS engine magnet has been provided,'' Chauhan said.

Now, Chauhan said, specialists with the Kurla shed have relocated the AWS engine magnet on seven rakes and observed their performance for two weeks. "We found that the AWS transient acting cases have practically become zero. We are making necessary modifications in all the rakes,'' Chauhan said.

Certain flaws were also detected on the functioning of the automatic phase control receiver (APC), which have now been rectified. APC receivers have are installed on rakes for automatic negotiation of neutral section. The motorman usually has to operate neutral section button, failing which a train will enter in AC section, resulting in damage to DC equipment. The APC receiver ensures the neutral section negotiation is automatic and there is no damage to equipment if the motorman fails to press the neutral section button.

It was found that the reliability of the APC receiver was poor and its cause could not be established. "Now officials have modified the location of the APC receiver, as a result there is absolutely no malfunctioning. It has been proposed to modify all the rakes in four months,'' Chauhan said.

On the architectural and theme lighting at Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus building, Chauhan said the CR has received a cheque of Rs 3.89 crore towards the first instalment of the Rs 4.86-crore project. "It will be the first project of Indian Railways that will be completed with 100% funding under central assistance provided by the ministry of tourism and civil aviation for value addition to the world heritage monument,'' Chauhan said.