First rake of Vande Bharat coaches undergo maintenance in Tiruchi

The first rake of Vande Bharat coaches underwent Shop Schedule – II maintenance at Tiruchi lasting over a month and despatched to Chennai on Wednesday for regular operations yet again.  The maintenance of the coaches of the semi-high speed Vande Bharat express train has been entrusted to the over 90-year-old Golden Rock Railway Workshop at Ponmalai here. 

This is the first time that the workshop handled the Vande Bharat coaches. The workshop is involved in a myriad activities, including the overhaul of broad gauge passenger coaches and diesel locomotives.

One rake of 16 Vande Bharat coaches arrived at the sprawling workshop on December 1 for “Shop Schedule -II” maintenance which is done once in three years, said workshop authorities. The premium train was running on the Chennai Central-Mysuru section when it was sent to the workshop.

A team of trained technical personnel carried out the task along with support staff. Prior to this, the workshop had sent some of its technical personnel to railway workshops at Matunga in Mumbai, Ajmer in Rajasthan, and Charbagh in Lucknow to gain knowledge and know the process of maintenance of Vande Bharat coaches and ascertain the existing infrastructure in those establishments.

The defects in seats and passenger-related amenities were repaired or replaced wherever required. The braking systems and equipment besides pantographs were all subjected to closer examination. The Coach Alteration Instructions issued by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai – the production unit of the Vande Bharat coaches – were complied with.

Cleanliness of the interior and exteriors of the coaches were ensured to make them look brighter. Upon completion of the maintenance task, the rake was despatched from the workshop to Chennai on Wednesday, the authorities said.

Exclusive unit

A 45-acre railway site has been identified at Manjathidal outside the workshop premises to set up an exclusive facility for maintenance of the Vande Bharat coaches.

A detailed estimate has been sent by the workshop to the Southern Railway headquarters for this purpose. The Railway Board, New Delhi, had sanctioned ₹300 crore for the establishment of this new facility, the authorities added.