The Railways has developed its first multi-genset locomotive in the country, which will help reduce fuel consumption and pollution.
With this, the Railways joins the select club of rail networks which have this state-of-the-art facility to power locomotives. The multi-genset locomotives are different from the current single genset locomotives.
“The multiple small engines work only when there is power demand. For higher power demand, all the three engines work and the lower power demand will be met by a single engine,” Railways officials said. “These locos will reduce the fuel consumption by about 20 per cent for delivering the same power.
As a result, the resultant nitric oxide emissions will be far less and these locos will have a smaller carbon footprint,” the Railways said. The trial run of the first multi-genset locomotive is currently underway at Itarsi under the Bhopal Division in West Central Railway. The Railway officials said they have undertaken the development of prototype multi-genset locos in the medium horse power range with 3 gensets of 800 horse power each amounting to a gross horse power of 2400.