Latest news with #GoldenRockRailwayWorkshop
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Vande Bharat train maintenance: Golden Rock Workshop technical teams visit various facilities
With the Golden Rock Railway Workshop at Tiruchi nominated to undertake major schedules of Vande Bharat rakes, technical teams from the workshop were sent to different railway workshops in the country to gain first hand exposure and experience in the maintenance of the modern coaches. Technical personnel visited the railway workshops at Matunga in Mumbai, Ajmer in Rajasthan and Charbagh in Lucknow to get to know the process in the maintenance of coaches, the existing set up and the infrastructure. The teams are expected to visit other maintenance depots, said workshop authorities. The Railway Board, New Delhi, had named the Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchi in place of the workshop in Perambur in Chennai to undertake major schedules of Vande Bharat train sets. The board had advised to plan for the development of infrastructure and testing facilities at the workshop required to carry out major schedules along with other modalities. Built during the colonial era at Ponmalai, the Golden Rock Railway Workshop is involved in a myriad of activities carrying out periodic overhaul of diesel locomotives, conventional ICF coaches and Linke Hofmann Bosch passenger coaches. It is carrying out periodic overhaul of steam locomotives operated in the Nilgiri Mountain Railway besides manufacturing various types of freight wagons and converting old passenger coaches into automobile carriers. Maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches would require the creation of a shed with overhead electrical arrangements and necessary infrastructure and equipment in place. The workshop is exploring the possibility of creating a separate facility for the exclusive maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches on railway land outside the workshop premises and close to the upcoming MEMU shed nearby. The preliminary estimate for the maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches at the workshop is under preparation involving different departments, the authorities said. The semi high-speed Vande Bharat trains have been introduced in different sections across the railway network since February 2019 to provide better travel experience and riding comfort for passengers. These trains have faster acceleration and can run at a speed of 160 kmph. The modern coaches are equipped with safety features and a host of amenities, including automatic plug doors, fully sealed gangway for free passenger movements, aerosol-based fire detection, and suppression and reclining ergonomic seats.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Golden Rock Railway Workshop to create facilities to maintain Vande Bharat trainsets
The Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchi is gearing up to create additional infrastructure as it has been nominated by the Railway Board to carry out maintenance of Vande Bharat trainsets. With the Board advising the General Manager, Southern Railway, to plan for the development of infrastructure and testing facilities, authorities here are drawing up a plan for the purpose on an outlay of about ₹300 crore in the first phase. Established during the British rule, the workshop is a premier railway establishment engaged in multifarious activities including periodic overhaul of broad gauge diesel locos and passenger coaches, manufacture of steam locomotives for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and producing freight and container wagons. 'We have been nominated to carry out all SSI and major scheduled maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches. Accordingly, we are drawing a plan to create the infrastructure that would entail an investment of about ₹300 crore in the first phase,' Santosh Kumar Patro, Chief Workshop Manager, Golden Rock Railway Workshop, told The Hindu. The plan would include building a couple of pit lines of 600 metres each and a heavy repair shop with a 35 tonne capacity crane to lift the Vande Bharat coaches. 'Although Vande Bharat trains are operated here with six coaches only now, we plan to create facilities to handle rakes with 24 coaches, providing for the possibility of introduction of sleeper coaches in future,' Mr. Patro added. The facility would include other necessary units such as wheel and paint shops. 'The facilities would come up on on about 30 acres. The detailed plan would be submitted to our headquarters within a month or two for approval,' he said. The Railway Board's move is expected to give a fillip to the development of the Golden Rock workshop. Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko welcomed the decision to nominate the GOC to carry out maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches and create the necessary infrastructure, which was until now available only in Perambur, Chennai. 'This is an important development and I eagerly await the day when the move will come to fruition,' he said.
