MARGAO/VASCO: The Hubbali division of the South Western Railway (SWR) launched its first Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit (DEMU) train service on Thursday with the Vasco-Kulem DEMU special that departed from Vasco at 7.30am.
The SWR has replaced the conventional rake of the train No. 07342/07341 Vasco-Kulem-Vasco passenger special and train No. 07343/07344 Vasco-Kulem-Vasco special with new DEMU rakes with effect from Thursday.
The train composition will have eight car coaches, a spokesperson of SWR said.
With the introduction of the DEMU trains, SWR has effectively introduced an additional train service between Vasco and Kulem.
Accordingly, train No. 07379 Kulem-Vasco DEMU special will depart from Kulem at 12.20pm and reach Vasco at 2.10pm. In the return direction, train No. 07380 Vasco -Kulem DEMU special will depart from Vasco at 1.05pm and reach Kulem at 3pm. Enroute, the train has stops at Kalay, Sanvordem-Curchorem, Chandor, Sao Jose de Areal, Margao, Suravali, Majorda, Cansaulim, Sancoale and Dabolim. Konkan Railway runs two DEMU trains between Margao and Karwar.
General manager, SWR, Sanjeev Kishore said that arrangements have been made for maintaining these rakes at Vasco itself and that men and material have been made available for the purpose. “Thus,DEMU rakes can be maintained during the night while they are stabled at Vasco. This will avoid movements for maintenance between Vasco and Verna, saving line capacity too,” Kishore said.
SWR officials said that local short distance commuter trains are ideally suited to be of DEMU type as the train has a driving cabin on both ends and can ply in both directions, thus doing away with the requirement of engine reversal at terminal stations, thereby saving time. Besides, the coaches provide more comfort for passengers with each car having a seating capacity of 105, 15 more than conventional coaches, SWR said.
The primary fuel source for the train is diesel. A diesel engine powers an alternator and subsequently feeds the electric motors. Each coach has its own source of motive power fitted below, which enables the train to accelerate and decelerate quickly making them ideal to ply as shuttles between stations located at short intervals.
