At a time when CNG has become almost synonymous with the term of alternate fuel option in India, the fact that Indian Railways has also taken a plunge in this aspect does not come as a surprise. This organization, which is one of the largest in the world, has shown its interest in making the world pollution-free by launching their first CNG powered train. Sudha Prabhu, the Railway Minister, flagged off the first CNG powered train in India and it ran across the 81 kilometres long Rewari to Rohtak section in the Northern Zone.
The CNG was applied to a passenger train with a mammoth 1400 hp engine, and the rake was modified to run on dual fuelling systems – CNG and diesel. Approximately 20 per cent of its fuel consumption will be on CNG, while the daily journey is completed in 2 hours. The six coaches have been manufactured by a Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) via the fumigation technology. The train runs with the capacity of 770 passengers. However, it is expected to reach the 1000 mark being India.
The trains are expected to emit lesser toxic, carcinogenic pollutants, zero particulate matter and harmful substances because of their switch to CNG. Also, the environment becomes free form the disastrous black smoke. The carbon monoxide content emissions are set to reduce by 90 per cent, carbon dioxide by 25 per cent, nitrogen oxide by 35 per cent and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions by 50 per cent. Also, the operating cost might be lowered by a whopping 50 per cent by the use of CNG.
Whether this move is accepted widely is yet to be known; however, congratulations to all those, whose outstanding efforts have contributed to launch a CNG-running train for the first time in India.
Source : Motoroids
