Forget hydrogen, Railways has launched LNG train that can run up to 1,600 km without refuelling; dual-fuel engine lets it switch to diesel when required
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What Is This Train And How Does It Work
This is not a fully gas-powered train. It runs on a dual-fuel system where LNG and diesel work together. LNG can replace up to 40 per cent of diesel consumption during operations.The engine can automatically switch between LNG and diesel depending on which fuel is available. No manual intervention needed, and no loss in engine power or performance.
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Where Was It Built And How Much Testing Went Into It
Two Driving Power Cars (DPCs), each rated at 1,400 HP, were converted at the Sabarmati Integrated Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad.Before the launch, both converted DPCs completed over 2,000 km of field trials to test performance and reliability under actual operating conditions. The technology cleared those trials before being put into service.
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How Big Is The LNG Tank And How Far Can It Go
Each converted DPC carries an LNG tank with a capacity of around 2,200 litres, holding approximately 850 to 900 kg of usable gas.A single full tank is enough to run the train for up to 1,600 km without stopping to refuel. That is roughly the distance from Mumbai to Kolkata in a straight line.
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How Much Money Will Railways Save
Railways estimates annual savings of around Rs 11.9 lakh from one DPC alone. For a full eight-coach rake with two DPCs, that goes up to around Rs 23.9 lakh per year.Over time, across multiple trains, the savings add up significantly without any reduction in operational capacity.
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What About Emissions
Cutting diesel use by 40 per cent does not just save money, it also reduces how much pollution the train puts out. According to trial data released by Railways, LNG use lowers emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
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Where Does This Fit In Railways' Bigger Plan
This is not a one-off project. Amit Shah said Railways consumed 293 crore litres of diesel in 2015-16. The target is to bring that down to zero by 2030.India has also completed 99.6 per cent railway electrification, ahead of China at 92 per cent, Spain at 68 per cent, France at 60 per cent, and the United Kingdom at 49 per cent. The LNG train is one piece of a much larger clean energy shift.
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What Else Was Launched
The LNG train was not the only thing flagged off. Projects worth over Rs 1,542 crore were launched at the same Ahmedabad event. These included a Rs 700-crore WAG-12 electric locomotive maintenance shed, a WAG-12 locomotive flagging off, Kavach train protection system on two major sections, automatic signalling works, and line doubling on the Sabarmati-Sarkhej section.(Inputs from Agencies)