Ritika
Mumbai: Friday proved to be a unique day in the history of railways when two Vande Bharat trains without bankers passed through two very difficult and old railway ghats of the country carrying passengers. For the first time in the history of over 150 years of Indian Railways, a train boarded the country’s toughest ghat sector with passengers without an additional engine.
PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains from CSMT on Friday. Of these, one train went to Solapur via Bhor Rail Ghat, the oldest in the Sahyadri mountain range, and the other to Shirdi by crossing Thal Ghat on the 14 km Kasara-Igatpuri section. This was the first time that both the semi high speed trains were seen running smoothly on the ghat without the banker locomotive.
Bhor Ghat is 25 kilometer long.
According to railway officials, Bhor Ghat and Thal Ghat are winding high altitudes in the Sahyadri mountain range. While running passenger or freight trains from these ghats, another engine is attached from behind. From these bankers the trains are pushed from behind into the high gradient gorge. Along with this, banker is also used for safety at the time of slope. In some trains two bankers have to be appointed. About 25 km long Bhor Ghat (also called Khandala Ghat) is between Karjat and Khandala stations, while 14 km long Thal Ghat called Kasara Ghat. Both the Ghats have many tunnels.
gradient of 1:37
The gradient of 1:37 means that the height of the track increases by one meter every 37 meters at these ghats, both Bhor and Thal Ghats being among the steepest and curviest railway ghats in Asia. Hence, goods trains or passenger trains, all trains passing through these ghats are pulled by additional locomotives (called bankers) from the Mumbai side, but Vande Bharat Express trains have proved to be an exception. Prior to this, empty rakes of Vande Bharat were tested at these ghats. During the trials, Vande Bharat successfully climbed and descended through both the ghats without bankers. According to a senior official, initially the loco pilots were hesitant to run this state-of-the-art train at the ghat, but it became easier after understanding the state-of-the-art technology of the train.
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parking brake engaged
Parking brakes have been installed in alternate coaches of Vande Bharat trains running on both the routes, which will ensure that the trains do not decelerate in case of train separation or power failure at the ghat, a senior railway official told PTI. Will get off Vande Bharat trains are light in weight with powerful motor engines on both sides like EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit). It has been decided that on difficult ghats these can be easily run without bankers.
self-propelled train
Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously designed semi high-speed self-propelled train set of 16 coaches. The train accelerates to 160 kmph in just 140 seconds, at present it is being run at a speed of 100 to 110. Better seats for the passengers, passenger information system in every coach with a control management to monitor the air conditioning. Automatic plug doors with sliding footsteps and touch lights inside the coach, sliding and bio-vacuum toilets like on the plane. The train is also equipped with ‘Kavach’, a state-of-the-art train safety system.
Attraction of Vande Bharat
Under Make in India, there was a tremendous attraction for the Vande Bharat train made at ICF, Chennai. On Friday, when the train started from Mumbai for the first time, there was a grand reception at various stations. From Dadar to Kalyan, Kasara, Igatpuri, Nashik, Manmad, a large number of children were seen standing on the platform carrying tricolor flags to welcome Vande Bharat leaving for Shirdi. There was a scramble to take selfies with Vande Bharat at the stations. People somehow wanted to come inside the train and see the view. There was an atmosphere of happiness among the passengers. Shivshankar Mishra, a passenger said that PM Narendra Modi is doing what he said. Passengers are welcoming the train of New India.
Festive atmosphere at Shirdi station
Vande Bharat train, which reached Sai Nagar Shirdi station for the first time late on Friday evening, was given a grand welcome. BJP MP Sujay Bikhe Patil along with his workers were seen welcoming the passengers of Vande Bharat. There was an atmosphere of celebration at the Shirdi station with the beating of drums and drums. The train reached Shirdi from Mumbai in about 5.30 hours, while Vande Bharat took about 6.30 hours to reach Solapur.
