Time to travel on environment-friendly trains

The Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) has called for proposals to convert the diesel power cars to compressed natural gas-run (CNG). The bids will be opened on July 7.

The diesel multiple unit trains that ply at Vasai, Diva and Dombivli in the far-flung suburbs of Mumbai could set ecological standards for city’s trains.

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The Indian Railways Organisation for Alternate Fuels (IROAF) has called for proposals to convert the diesel power cars to compressed natural gas-run (CNG). The bids will be opened on July 7.

The Railway Ministry has commissioned two research projects for using CNG to power suburban trains and to run long-distance trains on bio-diesel.

A senior railway official said the IROAF has invited tenders worth Rs 20.60 crore to convert 40 diesel power cars into CNG.

These cars will be spread across the country to replace the diesel multiple unit trains that run in small sections. In Mumbai, these trains run along the Dombivli-Diva-Vasai sector.

“Realising the importance of CNG as an alternate fuel, the concept of retro fitment of CNG kit in the present engine of DEMU [diesel electric multiple unit] without any major changes in the existing system is being taken up by the railways,” said an official from IROAF.

Bio-diesel is a good option for long-distance trains because CNG is available in select cities. Bio-diesel is a mix of diesel and biologically engineered components to run a locomotive.