FCC

Railways aim to use multiple waggon tipplers to unload coal

2023-01-16

The Indian railways intends to introduce multiple waggon tipplers in order to speed up the country's coal distribution network. Along with additional waggon tipplers, the railways intends to build additional waggon unloading lines to unload coal waggons at power plants.

With the help of clamping devices, coal waggon tipplers empty loaded waggons from the top and sides. The Indian railways currently use one waggon tippler to empty coal.

“The technology of multiple wagon tipplers at once is widely used in Japan and we are working to bring it to India. Three coal wagons can be tippled at one point. This will drastically improve the supply chain of coal across the country,” said a senior Indian Railways official.

With the increased use of waggon tipplers, railways anticipate faster coal movement and shorter transportation times.

In addition, the Indian railways will receive 50,000 waggons by 2023. One rake has 59 waggons and can transport 4,000 tonnes of coal at one time; railways intend to increase the number of rakes transporting coal by increasing the number of waggons.

The country's 17 zonal railways have identified routes and terminals dedicated to the movement of coal. In Maharashtra, the Central Railway has identified three routes to improve connectivity between Nagpur's powerhouses. Long-distance running loops for coal transportation across Indian railways are being sought.

Railways will also develop smart examination points at terminals to address the shortage of waggons for coal transportation. The examination points will detect problems in the waggon in real time, allowing them to be addressed immediately.

“The smart points will be used to detect flaws in the wagon in a mechanised way. This will be possible to detect the flaws without having to detach the wagons from the rake. Fixing the flaws will also be quicker,” added the railway official.