PRODUCTION OF 65 TO 78 METRE LONG RAILS FOR SAFE TRAIN SERVICES

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Indian Railways and Steel Authority of India have decided to produce 65 to 78 metre long rails. This will be welded in Bhilai Steel Plant to make a rail panel of length 240 to 260 metres to enhance safety of rail services.

These long rail panels will be directly transported to the site to reduce the number of welds. This will also improve the quality of rails by reducing its multiple handling. The project is planned to be implemented during the current plan period.

Ten mechanized rakes are being procured under Rolling Stock Programme for transportation of these larger rails. These are likely to be commissioned by 2005-2006.

The larger rails will improve safety of rails considerably and for that matter of train services.

Meanwhile, close interaction with the Steel Authority of India has helped the Railways reduce maximum permissible hydrogen content in the rail, produced at Bhilai Steel Plant, to 2 PPM which earlier used to be permitted upto 5.5 PPM. It is further proposed to be reduced to 1.5 PPM in next two years by 2005.