Electric loco shed completes 20 years

The electric loco shed at Lallaguda constructed as part of Vijayawada-Balharshah Railway electrification project designed with a capacity of 100 locomotives in 1995 completed 20 years in September this year.

The shed started with initial holding of 72 locomotives comprising of WAM4 & WAG5 for hauling passenger and goods trains now holds 200 locomotives comprising of 40 WAP4, 48 WAP7 & 112 WAG9 for hauling passenger and goods trains. Superfast trains including Rajadhani, Duranto and Sampark Kranthi are maintained at the facility.

Every month 12 locomotives get a complete overhaul at the facility which has close to 700 staff. The complete overhauling of the locomotives is done at intervals of one-an-a-half-years. On an average, a train that completes anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 km is brought to the facility.

Electric Locomotives are used for hauling passenger/goods trains. Electric locomotives used in Indian Railways employ a range of horse power from 3640 hp to 6120 hp. These locos run with speeds ranging from 130-160 kmph for passenger trains and 30-120 kmph for goods trains. There 944 3-phase locos running o¬n Indian Railways with a horse power of 6120 hp. Of the 5144 electric locomotives running o¬n Indian Railways, 580 locomotives are homed in sheds located at Lallaguda, Kazipet and Vijayawada over South Central Railway. A fourth electric loco shed is under construction at Guntakal.

Ashesh Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Secunderabad Division said that the facility would be upgraded and a proposal has been sent to the Railway Board which could hold another 25 locomotives. The approximate cost to improve the infrastructure is Rs 16 crore.

Ten km triple line commissioned A ten km triple line has been commissioned between Mandamari and Manchiryal stations of Balharshah and Kazipet section and is expected to be completed by March 2016. Work is in progress on 23 km stretch between Peddampet and Raghavapuram stations as well. In response to a question on the completion of the project Ashesh Agarwal said that it was a challenge and it is for the first time that a triple line has been taken up on SCR which would take a minimum of three years.