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New Delhi, Feb. 22 Indian Railways is planning to strengthen tracks to be able to run 25-tonne axle load rakes on about 4,000 km of rail tracks next year, up from the present level of 1,000 km.

On iron ore routes, 25-tonne axle loads can result in about 12-32 per cent increase in throughput of a rake depending on the type of wagons, according to the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) data. RDSO is the research arm of Indian Railways.

“This year we have 1,000 km of tracks where we run 25-tonne axle load wagons. Next year, we shall take it up to 4,000 km,” Mr S.K. Vij, Member-Engineering, Railway Board, told Business Line on the sidelines of a seminar organised recently by the Institution of Permanent Way Engineers.

Trains with 25 tonne axle load have been introduced on five routes covering 1,000 km, permitting Indian Railways an entry into the International Heavy Haul Associations.

Mr Vij said, “As on date, 22.3 tonne axle load trains have been universalised on Railways and 22.9 tonne axle load trains have been permitted on more than 21,000 route km of tracks.” Railways had a 20.32-tonne limit on axle load till 2005, after which it progressively started increasing the axle loads.

Inaugurating the seminar, the Minister of State (Railways), Mr R. Velu, called for better ways to improve monitoring as overloading continues to exist in Railways.

“With the limited experience of 25 tonne axle load and 22.9 tonne axle load operations, rate of wear and tear has increased, especially on weak areas in tracks. However, such effects were envisaged from experience on other world railways,” Mr Vij said, adding that overloading might also be responsible for these damages.

While stressing on the need to have regular and faster examinations of tracks to detect wear and tear, he added that disciplinary core groups have been set up at the zonal level, whose reports are monitored at the Railway Board level regularly.

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