August 30,
Paradip port has recently handled for the first time a full rake comprising 116 BOBR (bottom open bottom release) wagons against the normal rake of 58 wagons.
This means two normal rakes were joined to form a big rake. The big rake carried nearly 7,000 tonnes of thermal coal from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd to the port for coastal shipment to Ennore port to meet the requirement of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
As many as three engines were deployed to run the big train. The East Coast Railway feels that operation of such a big train is advantageous on many counts. First, the rational utilization of line capacity (path); also there will be conservation of fuel and shorter turnaround time provided the rake is released timely at the port end.
Inquiries reveal that the delay in releasing the wagons is caused not so much by the port operations but by the presence of big size coal and boulders in the consignment. The mechanical plant can handle coal of a certain size, and boulders are out of question. Meanwhile, several other zonal railways too have begun started running similar big freight trains and empties.
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