Aiming at providing better passenger amenities and ensuring higher speed like the Vande Bharat trains, Indian Railways has rolled out push-pull locomotive to haul non-air conditioned coaches.
In a push–pull train, two locomotives at both ends of a train are used at the same time, being controlled by one driver. The train moves faster in push-pull method and detention time at stations is reduced, improving turnaround time.
“Push-pull loco getting ready… noisy, oily, power generator coaches will not be needed once these push-pull locos are installed at both ends of trains,” said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on a social networking site.
Manufactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal, at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore, twin locomotives will move to ICF Chennai to be equipped with 22 non-AC LHB coaches.
While four coaches will be kept as reserved, rest 18 will be unreserved coaches.
Like Vande Bharat train which is fully AC service, the pull-push train will be non-AC service for common passengers.
There was a demand for a train with upgraded amenities and speed like Vande Bharat trains for common passengers, since the latter’s fare is on the higher side.
Pull-push electric locos can also be used to haul AC coaches depending upon the passenger demand.
There will be a trial of push-pull train with 22 coaches at ICF facility before launching the train in a particular route.
The push-pull train, with 22 coaches, is estimated to cost nearly Rs 60 crore. Currently, there are 34 Vande Bharat trains operational across the country.