New Delhi: The first indigenously made aluminum freight rake for the Railways was flagged off from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This rake is lighter than before but has more freight-carrying capacity. Railways said that the wagon manufactured in association with Besco Limited Wagon Division and aluminum sector major Hindalco has a low per quintal carbon footprint to reduce its weight.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav flagged off this rake. According to the railways, this rake is 180 tonnes lighter than the existing steel rakes, resulting in increased speed for the same distance and less power consumption. It can carry 180 tonnes of additional payload per trip as compared to conventional rakes and being erosion resistant, its maintenance cost will also be low.
10 years more running capacity than the normal rake
Railway officials said the resale value of the new rakes is 80 percent and it lasts 10 years more than the normal rakes. However, its manufacturing cost is 35 percent higher, as the superstructure is entire of aluminum.
Government modernizing trains, aluminum rakes cost 35 percent more
Significantly, Indian Railways is emphasizing modernizing indigenously made trains. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train. Now the Railway Minister has dispatched the aluminum freight rake. The government is emphasizing modernizing trains.
