MEMU

Last updated
MEMU
RCF MEMU.jpg
A 3rd-generation MEMU train produced by RCF rest at Bandel
Overview
Owner Indian Railways
Area servedIndia
Transit type Regional rail/Commuter rail
Operation
Began operation1995
Operator(s) Indian Railways
Reporting marks IR
Train length12 coaches
Technical
Track gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification 25 kV AC Overhead line
Top speed110 km/h (68 mph)

In Indian Railways, A MEMU is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train that serves short and medium-distance routes in India, as compared to normal EMU trains that connect urban and suburban areas. The acronym stands for Mainline Electric Multiple Unit. [1]

Contents

History

A Jessop-built 1.5 kV DC EMU train built in the 1950s. It was one of the first EMU of Mumbai suburban railway. This design was nicknamed the Lovemate, and was discontinued in 2016 Mumbai suburban railway emu 3.JPG
A Jessop-built 1.5 kV DC EMU train built in the 1950s. It was one of the first EMU of Mumbai suburban railway. This design was nicknamed the Lovemate, and was discontinued in 2016

Indian Railways (IR) started MEMU service on Asansol – Adra section on 15 July 1995 and on Kharagpur – Tata section on 22 July 1995. Delhi-Panipat MEMU service started on 27 September 1995. Raipur–Durg–Bhatapara–Raipur–Bilaspur MEMU service started on 17 October 1995. Arakkonam-Jolarpettai MEMU service on 22 May 2000. Bankura-Midnapore MEMU started on 30 June 2000. The first 20 coach MEMU ran between Surat to Virar in 2017. Since 2019, 3-phase MEMUs have started replacing existing MEMU rakes. [2]

IR is progressively replacing all locomotive-hauled slow and fast passenger and intercity trains with EMUs. The upgraded trains are re-branded as MEMUs.

Operation

The system uses multiple electrical units [3] [4] operating on 25 kV AC drawn from overhead lines. The trailer coaches have two toilets for passengers and one for the crew.

The train can run up to 200 km (120 mi) between Eastern Ghat and Western Ghat. The rakes have a maximum permitted speed of 105 km/h (65 mph) on broad-gauge tracks. The motorcoaches use DC traction motors. These rakes use asynchronous traction motors and have a maximum designed speed of 110 km/h. These use a stainless steel body. Two of them operate on South Central Railways.

ICF launched new MEMUs capable to operate at 110–130 km/h. The construction cost is 26 crore per unit and can carry 2,618 passengers. This train has a three phase traction motor and operates on 25 kV current which saves 35% energy. It offers GPS-based passenger information systems and announcement in coaches. It has double leaf sliding doors, gangways, CCTV cameras and aluminium luggage racks. The driver's cabin has AC and the coach has an emergency communication facility. It is designed to operate between cities 200–300 km (120–190 mi) away in Uttar Pradesh. The train may start in February 2019. [5]

Manufacturing

MEMUs are manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. Rakes are maintained in the Titlagarh coach maintenance shops.[ citation needed ] Marathwada Rail Coach Factory, Latur is currently trying to ramp up production capacity of 250 MEMU coaches per annum.

Maintenance

MEMU Car Shed and Office in Kollam Junction railway station premises Kollam MEMU Shed, Jan 2017.jpg
MEMU Car Shed and Office in Kollam Junction railway station premises

MEMU Car Sheds are functioning for the maintenance of MEMU rakes in most of the states where the services are operated. MEMU Car Sheds are operational in Avadi, Bangalore, Kollam, [6] Palakkad, Tambaram, Trichy and Vijayawada under Southern Railway.

Third generation

New 3rd generation was rolled out from RCF Kapurthala with following features:

  1. Ethernet-based Train Control Management System which provides advanced control features
  2. designed for speeds of up to 110 kmph
  3. Energy efficient LED lights have been provided with 50 percent emergency lights in each coach
  4. train is equipped with the latest GPS-based public address and passenger information system in each coach to facilitate passengers with respect to railway stations enroute
  5. train is equipped with 3-phase IGBT-based converter and inverter designed and developed by BHEL
  6. train also features a technologically advanced regenerative braking system.

Rolling stock

MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bangalore MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bangalore.jpg
MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bangalore

MEMU uses 8,12 and 14 car coaches. The trailer coaches have two toilets for passengers and one for the crew. This train can go either fast or slow.

Palakkad - Erode MEMU Palakkad Erode MEMU.jpg
Palakkad - Erode MEMU


Services

Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMU)

ServiceLocaleDistanceAverage speedTravel timeStopsFrequencyRef
Ambala–Amb Andaura Haryana and Himachal Pradesh 213 km (132 mi)41 km/h (25 mph)06h 10m22Twice a day [7]
Amritsar–Attari Punjab 24 km (15 mi)32 km/h (20 mph)00h 45m13Daily [8]
Ara–Sasaram Bihar 97 km (60 mi)28 km/h (17 mph)03h 30m26Daily [9]
Banihal–Baramula DEMU Jammu and Kashmir 135 km (84 mi)58 km/h (36 mph)02h 35m12Daily [10]
Indore–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar Madhya Pradesh 21 km (13 mi)23 km/h (14 mph)0h 55m12Daily [11]
Indore–Ratlam Madhya Pradesh 115 km (71 mi)44 km/h (27 mph)02h 40m13Daily [12]
Jalandhar City–Amritsar Punjab 79 km (49 mi)39 km/h (24 mph)01h 50m13Daily [13]
Mahesana–Abu Road DEMU Gujarat and Rajasthan 117 km (73 mi)37 km/h (23 mph)00h 55m15Daily [14]
Nizamabad–Kacheguda Telangana 166 km (103 mi)40 km/h (25 mph)04h 10m12Thrice a day [15]
Raichur–Gadwal–Kacheguda Karnataka and Telangana 60 km (37 mi)60 km/h (37 mph)01h 00m8Daily [16]
Rajgir–Bakhtiyarpur Bihar 54 km (34 mi)22 km/h (14 mph)02h 25m5Daily [17]
Ratlam–Laxmibai Nagar Madhya Pradesh 115 km (71 mi)45 km/h (28 mph)02h 45m14Daily [18]
Rohtak–Rewari Haryana 81 km (50 mi)40 km/h (25 mph)02h 00m13Daily [19]
Sabarmati–Mahesana Gujarat 63 km (39 mi)47 km/h (29 mph)01h 20m7Daily [20]
Sabarmati–Patan Gujarat 103 km (64 mi)40 km/h (25 mph)02h 35m7Daily [21]
Vasai Road–Diva Maharashtra 40 km (25 mi)46 km/h (29 mph)00h 52m5Daily [22]

Electric Multiple Units (EMU)

ServiceLocaleDistanceAverage speedTravel timeStopsFrequencyRef
Chennai–Tirupati Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu 147 km (91 mi)37 km/h (23 mph)04h 00m25Daily [23]
Dahod–Ratlam Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh 114 km (71 mi)47 km/h (29 mph)03h 05m12Daily [24]
Falaknuma–Bhuvanagiri Telangana 46 km (29 mi)24 km/h (15 mph)01h 50m15Daily [25]
Panvel–Dahanu Road MEMU Maharashtra 136 km (85 mi)41 km/h (25 mph)03h 25m19Daily [26]
Panvel–Vasai Road Maharashtra 63 km (39 mi)46 km/h (29 mph)01h 35m10Daily [27]
Rajgir–Danapur Bihar 109 km (68 mi)24 km/h (15 mph)04h 35m21Daily [28]
Sealdah–Berhampore Court West Bengal 186 km (116 mi)44 km/h (27 mph)04h 15m23Daily [29]
Ujjain–Nagda Madhya Pradesh 56 km (35 mi)39 km/h (24 mph)01h 25m6Daily [30]
Virar–Bharuch Gujarat and maharashtra 267 km (166 mi)37 km/h (23 mph)06h 45m39Daily [31]
Whitefield–KSR Bengaluru City Karnataka 23 km (14 mi)35 km/h (22 mph)00h 40m12Daily [32]

See also

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References

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