Guwahati, Oct 24: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has converted 12 more train services from diesel to electric traction, marking another significant step towards cleaner and more energy-efficient railway operations.
With this transition, a total of 30 train services have been shifted to electric traction in the NFR during the current financial year, strengthening its efforts to reduce dependence on diesel and promote environmentally sustainable transportation.
Among the train services included in the latest conversion are Train No 15613/15614 Lachit Express, 15813/15814 Dekargaon-Silapathar Express, 15895/15896 Rangiya-Murkongselek Express, 15927/15928 Rangiya-New Tinsukia Express, 15967/15968 Rangiya-Ledo Express and 15603/15604 Guwahati-Ledo Intercity Express.
As per estimates, the transition is expected to reduce annual diesel consumption by approximately 98.55 lakh litre, lowering expenditure by around Rs 140 crore annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 26,411 tonnes each year.
“Passengers will also benefit from reduced locomotive changes from diesel to electric traction, helping save transit time and improve punctuality. Further, head-on generation facilities in electric locomotives enable power supply to compatible coaches directly from the locomotive, reducing diesel consumption in generator cars attached in LHB rakes and helping minimise noise and air pollution,” NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPEO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said.
The latest move comes amid NFR’s wider efforts to improve railway infrastructure and connectivity across the Northeast.
During a recent inspection, a senior NFR official conducted a window-trailing inspection from Badarpur in southern Assam to Agartala, and onwards to Nishchintapur and Sabroom in southern Tripura.
The inspection covered railway stretches along the route, with detailed reviews and discussions involving senior NFR officials on ongoing construction activities and existing infrastructure, including tracks, bridges and associated safety arrangements.
NFR has also been working to fast-track the Agartala-Akhaura rail link to strengthen connectivity between Tripura and Bangladesh.