To combat line capacity bottlenecks, South Central Railway has for the first time started running ‘long haul’ goods trains, nicknamed ‘Trishul’ from Vijayawada to Duvada.
Three full-length goods trains, with 58 BOXN wagons each, were joined together and operated as one on the route. The operation of such so-called long-haul trains has been tried by South East Central Railway and East Coast Railway earlier.
SCR recently commissioned two long loops on the Vijayawada-Duvada route at Navabpalem and Bikkavolu. The new longer loop lines are meant to enable the operation of long 116-wagon (2 standard trains combined) trains without hampering faster services.
According to the zone, clubbing trains together as one reduces manpower needs, helps speed up trains and delivery of coal to power plants and reduces wagon turnaround time, thus improving utilisation.
The first Trishul achieved an average speed of 50 kmph on the journey.
For increasing line capacity automagtic signalling was adopted, where more than one train was allowed in the block section.
It was working well in the Chakradharpur Division.
Trisul long train shown was in the empty direction. In the loaded direction also this is adopted?