This is fascinating as well as interesting to let you all know about such a great initiative taken by Indian Railways towards ‘Go Green’ with the launch of first train that is going to be equipped with solar powered coaches. This launch of country’s first train with such solar coaches is been done on Friday that is 14th July’2017. It is supposed to be a diesel electric multiple unit and a DEMU based broad gauge train backed with an efficient and productive battery bank facility that makes sure that enough power would be generated even in the absence of sunlight. The solar panels were installed at the top side on the roofs of the coaches and they are meant to be the ultimate source of the entire electrical supply and requirement of the complete unit involving fans, lights, and even information display system.
The inauguration of the train is been done by honourable Railway Minister Mr. Suresh Prabhu on Friday in New Delhi at Safdarjung railway station and it was said that it is going to be a big step towards making Indian Railways trains along with the country more eco friendly and environmental friendly. The first rake of the express will be put into operation and commercial service soon belonging to the suburban railway system of Delhi division. In accord to Bloomberg, it is supposed to travel from Sarai Rohilla in New Delhi till Farrukhnagar based in the Gurgaon district of Haryana. Aside from this, Demu trains known all over as multiple unit trains which are powered by on-board engines having an individual locomotive is meant to render power via its diesel driven generator to its passenger comfort system.
Adding to this, it has been reported that the train is going to generate about 1600 horsepower and it is been manufactured at ICF – Integral Coach Factory in Chennai along with its solar panels and system are been fitted and constructed by the reckoned IROAF – Indian Railways Organization of Alternative Fuel. As per reports stated, 24 coaches will be in addition and get fitted with the system within a six month of time duration. Also, Prabhu stated that Railways is been highly devoted and dedicated to make use of cleaner and efficient fuels and this initiative has been taken with intent to raise the use of non conventional source of energy all across the country. Moreover, it has also been reported that carrier will undertake many other eco friendly measures involving making use of water recycling, bio-toilets, bio fuel LNG and CNG, waste disposal and harnessing and taking the full potential of wind energy. IROAF has developed this special train system backed with a smart and efficient inverter assuring to optimize the power generation on a running train meeting the full load capacity and demand and even during the night hours. In a shell, as per Indian Railways, a solar powered running DEMU train backed with six coaches is going to save at least 21k litres of diesel and about Rs. 12 Lakh of Railway Ministry each year.