First Passenger Carrying Train On Electric Traction Reaches Kamakhya Station of Guwahati After Covering More Than 2000 KM

Brahmaputra Mail became the first passenger-carrying train to run completely on electric traction and reached Kamakhya station in Guwahati on October 28.

Representational Image

Brahmaputra Mail became the first passenger-carrying train to run completely on electric traction and reached Kamakhya station in Guwahati on October 28. The Brahmaputra Mail Special ran to and fro between Delhi and Kamakhya station. 

The electric traction was tested with a parcel train upto Kamakhya on October 21, 2021. After the successful test, it was run with a passenger train which marked a milestone in the Northern Frontier Railways. The Ministry of Railways in an official statement said, “Thus, the N. F. Railway begins a new era.”

After completion  and authorisation of railway electrification upto Kamakhya station, the section between New Coochbehar and Kamakhya was opened for operation on electric traction. With this, a route of 760 Route KM/1701 Track KM has been completely electrified on Northern Frontier Railways.

With the complete electrification, trains will directly reach Kamakhya without any change in traction. Earlier, the trains from Katihar and Malda to New Coochbehar were detached from electric engines and attached to diesel engines at New Coochbehar for the journey ahead. Now there will be direct connectivity between New Delhi and Kamakhya without change of locomotives.

“At this point, it is worthwhile to note the numerous inherent benefits of electric traction i.e. higher speed potential enabling faster trains, saving of time and energy, increase energy efficiency with a higher power to weight ratio, regenerative breaking, higher hauling capacity with high horsepower locomotives, improve reliability and line capacity, pollution-free mode of transportation, cost-effective due to lesser maintenance and operating cost etc,” the ministry added in the statement.