Railways inducts 3 track maintenance machines

The railways has inducted three state-of-the-art machines into its fleet to improve the safety, reliability and economy in maintenance of tracks.

"The 09-3X Dynamic Tamping Express machines...were flagged off by M K Gupta, Member Engineering, Railway Board at Faridabad. Seven such machines are planned to be included within next six months in the present fleet of 874 track maintenance machines...for deployment on heavy density routes," according to an official statement.

A tamping machine or ballast tamper is a machine used to pack (or tamp) the track ballast under railway tracks to make the tracks more durable.

The machine, costing about Rs 27 crore, is a latest high output integrated tamping machine having multiple functions, so far being carried out by different machines.

It can measure pre- and post- track geometry, correct the track to required geometry, can tamp three sleepers simultaneously, stabilise and measure post tamping track parameters under load to ensure quality of work done.

This eliminates the need for a separate stabilisation machine which reduces operating costs and track possession time, the railways said.

"Three operations including manual interface is now combined in one machine. This machine will vibrate and compact the loose stone ballast after tamping for safe movements of trains. These machines have been manufactured in India under 'Make In India' initiative with imported components. 42 more such machines have been planned to be included in Indian Railway maintenance fleet over next three years," the statement said.