MALIGAON, DECEMBER 6 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has pioneered an innovative track maintenance system using road machinery such as Hydra cranes and back-hoe loaders to speed up the maintenance of points and crossings. These critical components of the railway network allow trains to switch tracks and safely cross from one track to another.
This initiative, successfully tested on November 29 at the Pandu machine siding in Maligaon, Guwahati, marks a significant milestone in NFR’s efforts to ensure safety and timely maintenance of railway tracks, stated a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma on Friday.
Traditionally, track maintenance on Indian Railways has been carried out using specialized track machines, which play a vital role in enhancing safety and ensuring the efficient maintenance of tracks. Currently, 1,684 track machines are in operation across Indian Railways, with an additional 301 machines being supplied.
These include machines such as Ballast Cleaning Machines, Tamping Machines, Dynamic Track Stabilizers, and Muck Disposal Units. Plasser India, a key supplier of track machines, has set up a new manufacturing plant in Karjan, Gujarat, to meet the growing demand in India and globally, in line with the Prime Minister’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.
The new method of using road machinery for the maintenance of points and crossings acts as a force multiplier, complementing the track machines. With careful planning and a focus on overcoming logistical challenges, this approach has significantly enhanced ballast cushion and track stability. The easy availability of road machinery and their ability to be deployed in remote or less accessible areas allows this system to augment traditional track machines, enabling faster maintenance of the numerous points and crossings spread across NFR’s vast jurisdiction.
