Vande Bharat train maintenance: Golden Rock Workshop technical teams visit various facilities

With the Golden Rock Railway Workshop at Tiruchi nominated to undertake major schedules of Vande Bharat rakes, technical teams from the workshop were sent to different railway workshops in the country to gain first hand exposure and experience in the maintenance of the modern coaches.

With the Golden Rock Railway Workshop at Tiruchi nominated to undertake major schedules of Vande Bharat rakes, technical teams from the workshop were sent to different railway workshops in the country to gain first hand exposure and experience in the maintenance of the modern coaches.

Technical personnel visited the railway workshops at Matunga in Mumbai, Ajmer in Rajasthan and Charbagh in Lucknow to get to know the process in the maintenance of coaches, the existing set up and the infrastructure. The teams are expected to visit other maintenance depots, said workshop authorities.

The Railway Board, New Delhi, had named the Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchi in place of the workshop in Perambur in Chennai to undertake major schedules of Vande Bharat train sets. The board had advised to plan for the development of infrastructure and testing facilities at the workshop required to carry out major schedules along with other modalities.

Built during the colonial era at Ponmalai, the Golden Rock Railway Workshop is involved in a myriad of activities carrying out periodic overhaul of diesel locomotives, conventional ICF coaches and Linke Hofmann Bosch passenger coaches. It is carrying out periodic overhaul of steam locomotives operated in the Nilgiri Mountain Railway besides manufacturing various types of freight wagons and converting old passenger coaches into automobile carriers.

Maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches would require the creation of a shed with overhead electrical arrangements and necessary infrastructure and equipment in place. The workshop is exploring the possibility of creating a separate facility for the exclusive maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches on railway land outside the workshop premises and close to the upcoming MEMU shed nearby.

The preliminary estimate for the maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches at the workshop is under preparation involving different departments, the authorities said.  The semi high-speed Vande Bharat trains have been introduced in different sections across the railway network since February 2019 to provide better travel experience and riding comfort for passengers.

These trains have faster acceleration and can run at a speed of 160 kmph. The modern coaches are equipped with safety features and a host of amenities, including automatic plug doors, fully sealed gangway for free passenger movements, aerosol-based fire detection, and suppression and reclining ergonomic seats.