Chennai: As part of the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Southern Railway on Friday organised a heritage train run featuring 163-year-old EIR- 21 - the oldest working steam locomotive in the world. Hauling a single coach, the train was operated from Chennai Egmore to Kodambakkam.
R.K. Kulshrestha, general manager, Southern Railway, A.K. Kathpal, principal chief mechanical engineer, and Naveen Gulati, divisional railway manager, Chennai, were present during the run.
Loco Works, Perambur, revived the steam loco in 2010 after its withdrawal from service in 1909. EIR- 21 was exhibited at Jamalpur workshops and Howrah station for over 101 years. The locomotive also known to adapt to modern day technologies such as GPS based speedometer was so far used for seven runs since its revival.
Further, Kulshrestham, after unfurling the national flag, mentioned about Southern Railway's highlight last year and their plans for the upcoming year.
“Up to December 2017, Southern Railway's gross earnings is at Rs.5422.09 crore and our operating ratio is 168.07 per cent. We are operating 63 per cent more number of special trains than last year and are also planning to run 270 more special trains,” he said.
He further added, on the safety front, all unmanned level crossings will be eliminated on A, B, C routes before March 2018 and bio-toilets in all coaches will be provided by December 2018. Southern Railway has implemented integrated security system at 14 important railway stations by way of providing CCTVs. Under Nirbhaya Fund, CCTVs are also to be provided in the 136 A1, A, B, C category stations including suburban railway stations and as a trial measure, work has been completed in Nungambakkam railway station.
On the part of energy saving, 735 stations will be provided with 100 per cent LEDs. Emergency medical centres have been set up at 23 stations, child helpline centres at 6 stations, differently-abled friendly measures at 71 stations and wi-fi at 23 stations. The passenger friendly measures will be provided in many more stations in the coming year, he ensured.
R-Day at ICF: “Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has manufactured 1,668 coaches till December 2017, which is all time high for the first nine months in a production year,” said S. Mani, general manager, ICF after unfurling the flag at the ICF stadium on Friday.
He stated that ICF would be manufacturing best in class train sets with 160 kmph speed, called “Train 18” with 3 phase under slung propulsion equipment, sealed gangways, air-conditioned, continuous windows, automatic plug doors, seamless wi-fi facility and state-of-the-art comfort facilities for passengers.
