The Hindu Business Line : Green signal for triple-stacks on diesel routes

The Lucknow-based Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has approved Pipavav Rail Corporation Ltd’s (PRCL) proposal to move smaller-sized, triple-stack containers on those routes of Indian Railways that are used to run double-stack, ISO-sized containers. The containers approved for running by RDSO are lower in height (about 6 ft 4 inches) and have slightly more length than the ISO-standard sized containers. ISO standard containers are sized at 8.5x40 ft and 9.5x40 ft.

Additionally, the RDSO has approved running these containers in double-stack under the overhead electric wire in the electric traction of Indian Railways. However, before doing so, PRCL has to ensure that there are no hindrances within a certain envelope size.

“The RDSO has approved the proposal to run three smaller-sized containers stacked above each other in flat container wagons on those diesel routes where the larger (ISO-standard size) double-stack containers are run. The trains can be run without going for separate oscillation trials at a speed of up to 75 km per hour (kmph),” said official sources, adding that inputs for oscillation trials were taken from the double-stack test run.

TRIAL RUN

Currently, Railways runs double-stack containers (of ISO-standard size) on diesel routes that do not have overhead electric wires. PRCL — a 50-50 joint venture company of Indian Railways and Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd — had conducted trials a few months ago for moving cars in specially designed, lower-sized containers that can accommodate more than double the number of cars per train than what is in use now. The trials were carried out along with one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the country.

Using these specially designed containers in electrified routes, 360 small cars or 270 medium or large cars can be moved per train. On specific diesel routes, triple-stack containers could be moved, thus accommodating 440 small cars or 405 medium or large-sized cars per train.

HAULAGE CHARGES

Meanwhile, PRCL has also sought haulage charges from Indian Railways for moving both general cargo and automobiles in these containers. Haulage rates are charges that container operators are required to pay Indian Railways for using its track and other infrastructure for offering containerised services.

The level of haulage charges is going to be a key component in the backdrop of Railways wanting to grab a share of the automobile transportation market in the country from roadways. If the haulage charges are not at a level that makes car transportation cheaper by container trains vis-À-vis road transportation, then the project may not take off commercially. This project formed a part of the Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad’s Budget speech in 2007.

Incidentally, Container Corporation of India’s (Concor) plans to move specially designed auto carrier wagons on rail tracks could not take off commercially after Railways issued haulage rates that made the project costs very high. In 2006, Concor had sought haulage rates from Indian Railways for moving cars in specially designed wagons.

With India emerging as an automobile-manufacturing hub, several other container operators are also eyeing the car transportation market segment to provide hinterland connectivity to automobile manufacturers.