CLW to build locomotive database

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) intends to scale up its interaction with zonal railway systems within the Indian railways structure users so that liaison and service (L&S) wing of CLW can build a data base for all the CLW-built locomotives currently plying all over the Indian Railways network.

This would lead to better preventive practice and deliver trouble-free solutions to the different sheds under the zones maintaining the locos, indicated V Shanker, general manager (GM) of CLW. This would lead to lower downtime for such locomotives and allow the system to carry more loads, maximizing return on assets.

Shanker was speaking after a two-day co-ordination meeting held at CLW with the chief electrical engineers (CEE) for zonal railway rolling stock and the chief electric loco engineers (CELE) of different zonal railways and representatives of RDSO to discuss about the quality, reliability and after sales service of CLW-built electric locomotives.

At present, more than 3650 electric Locomotives were plying on the electrified section of Indian Railways. These were being maintained at 26 electric loco sheds and seven overhauling and repair shops operated by Indian Railways, which were also supervising operation of these locomotives. The zonal railways participating in the meeting included Central Railways, Western Railways, Eastern Railways, South Eastern Railways, Northern Railways, East Coast Railways and SEC Railways.

Among issued discussed at the meeting was the line maintenance of locomotives in overhaul and repair sheds in the respective railway systems. Another agenda for discussion was the supply of spares to zonal railways and reconciliation of pending demands.

The reliability factors in new locomotives and suggestions from zonal railways for easier operation and maintenance of locomotives including crew-friendly cab locos featured at the meeting. The CLW team briefed the zonal railway systems about steps being taken to improve the reliability, availability and upkeep of locos, in response to the areas of concern and reliability issues highlighted by the 12 participating railway zonal systems.

R K Bansal, CEE of CLW, said the railways CLW would resolve all the issues under a time-bound programme to help zonal railways improve their service.