Research Design and Standards Organisation

Last updated

Research Design & Standards Organisation
Company type Organization
Industry Research and Development
Founded1957;67 years ago (1957)
Headquarters,
Area served
India
Owner Government of India
Parent Ministry of Railways through Railway Board (India)
Website rdso.indianrailways.gov.in

The Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) is the research and development and railway technical specification development organisation under the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India, which functions as a technical adviser and consultant to the Railway Board, the Zonal Railways, the Railway Production Units, RITES, RailTel and Ircon International in respect of design and standardization of railway equipment and problems related to railway construction, operations and maintenance. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

To enforce standardization and co-ordination between various railway systems in British India, the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA) was set up in 1902. It was followed by the establishment of the Central Standards Office (CSO) in 1930, for preparation of designs, standards and specifications. However, till India's independence in 1947, most of the designs and manufacture of railway equipment was entrusted to foreign consultants. After independence, a new organisation called Railway Testing and Research Centre (RTRC) was set up in 1952 at Lucknow, for undertaking the intensive investigation of railway problems, providing basic criteria and new concepts for design purposes, for testing prototypes and generally assisting in finding solutions for specific problems. In 1957, the Central Standards Office (CSO) and the Railway Testing and Research Centre (RTRC) were integrated into a single unit named Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under the Ministry of Railways with its headquarters at Manak Nagar, Lucknow. [1] The status of RDSO was changed from an "Attached Office" to a "Zonal Railway" on 1 January 2003, to give it greater flexibility and a boost to the research and development activities. [4] [5]

Organisation

RDSO is headed by the Director-General who ranks equivalent to the general manager of a Zonal Railway. The present Director General is Sanjeev Bhutani [6] The Director-General is assisted by an Additional Director General and 23 Sr. Executive Directors and Executive Directors, who are in charge of the 27 directorates: Bridges and Structures, the Centre for Advanced Maintenance Technology (CAMTECH), Carriage, Geotechnical Engineering, Testing, Track Design, Medical, EMU & Power Supply, Engine Development, Finance & Accounts, Telecommunication, Quality Assurance, Personnel, Works, Psycho-Technical, Research, Signal, Wagon Design, Electric Locomotive, Stores, Track Machines & Monitoring, Traction Installation, Energy Management, Traffic, Metallurgical & Chemical, Motive Power and Library & Publications. All the directorates except Defence Research are located in Lucknow.

Projects

Trail run of world's first triple stack container train. [7]

Design and specification of 12,000 hp WAG-11 electric locomotive. [8]

Design and specification of Vande Bharat [9]

Design and development of dual purpose Double Decker Express for cargo as well as passenger. [10] [11]

Design and specification of WDAP-5

Design and specification of Utkrisht Double Decker

Development of design & specification of WAG-12

Development of Double Decker Express

Design of WAGC3 locomotive

Development of a new crashworthy design of 4500 HP WDG4 locomotive incorporating new technology to improve dynamic braking and attain significant fuel savings.[ citation needed ]

Development of Drivers’ Vigilance Telemetric Control System which directly measures and analyses variations in biometric parameters to determine the state of alertness of the driver.

Development of Kavach.

Development of Computer Aided Drivers Aptitude test equipment for screening high-speed train drivers for Rajdhani/Shatabdi Express trains to evaluate their reaction time, form perception, vigilance and speed anticipation.

Assessment of residual fatigue life of critical railway components like rail, rail weld, wheels, cylinder head, OHE mast, catenary wire, contact wire, wagon components, low components, etc. to formulate remedial actions.

Modification of specification of Electric Lifting Barrier to improve its strength and reliability. [12]

Design and development of modern fault tolerant, fail-safe, maintainer friendly Electronic Interlocking system.

Development of 4500 HP Hotel Load Locomotive to provide clean and noise-free power supply to coaches from the locomotive to eliminate the existing generator car of Garib Rath express trains.

Field trials conducted for electric locomotive hauling Rajdhani/Shatabdi express trains with Head On Generation (HOG) system to provide clean and noise-free power supply to end on coaches.

Development of WiMAX technology to provide internet access to the passengers in running trains.

Design and Development of Ballastless Track with the indigenous fastening system (BLT-IFS).

Design and Development of Rail Free Fastening (RFF) for Girder Bridges.

Reduction in de-stressing temperature in LWR with the use of wider and heavier sleepers.

Carrying Long Welded Rails through Points and Crossings.

Laying of Long Welded Rails in Sharp curve of less than 440 m radius.

Design and development of 25T Axle load bogie for different wagons.

Major achievements

See also

Related Research Articles

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Rail transport in India consists of primarily of passenger and freight shipments along an integrated rail network. Indian Railways (IR), a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India, operates India's national railway system. It is the primary owner and operator of rail operations throughout the country including suburban rail in major metros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilevel rail car</span> Railroad car with two levels (double decker)

A bilevel car or double-decker coach is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the railway track</span>

The railway track or permanent way is the elements of railway lines: generally the pairs of rails typically laid on the sleepers or ties embedded in ballast, intended to carry the ordinary trains of a railway. It is described as a permanent way because, in the earlier days of railway construction, contractors often laid a temporary track to transport spoil and materials about the site; when this work was substantially completed, the temporary track was taken up and the permanent way installed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Railways</span> Government of India statutory body

Indian Railways is a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India that operates India's national railway system. As of 2023, it manages the fourth largest national railway system by size with a track length of 132,310 km (82,210 mi), running track length of 106,493 km (66,172 mi) and route length of 68,584 km (42,616 mi). As of August 2024, 96.59% of the broad-gauge network is electrified. With more than 1.2 million employees, it is the world's ninth-largest employer and India's second largest employer.

Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2023, it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of 14,800 locomotives. The railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives along with a few compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on mountain railways and on heritage trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WAP-4</span> Indian Railway passenger class electric locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WAP-4 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1993 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive, 4th generation (4). They entered service in late 1994. A total of 778 WAP-4 were built at CLW between 1993 and 2015, which made them the most numerous class of mainline electric passenger locomotive until the WAP-7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WDP-4</span> Indian Railways passenger class diesel locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WDP-4 is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) of Varanasi, India for Indian Railways as the classes WDP4, WDP4B and WDP4D. The GT46PAC is a passenger version of the previous Indian Railways EMD GT46MAC freight locomotive. The locomotive has a 16-cylinder 710G3B diesel engine and is one of the fastest diesel-electric locomotives in service in Indian Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LHB coach</span> Type of coach used by Indian Railways

Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) coach is a passenger coach of Indian Railways that is developed by Linke-Hofmann-Busch of Germany and produced by rail coach manufacturing units at Kapurthala, Chennai and Raebareli. They have been used since 2000 on the 1,676 mm broad gauge network of Indian railways. Initially, 24 air-conditioned coaches were imported from Germany for use in the Shatabdi Expresses, following which, the Rail Coach Factory started manufacturing after technology transfer. IR declared that all ICF coaches will be replaced by LHB coaches to provide more safety and comfort. The last ICF Coach was flagged off on 19 January 2018, making way for LHB Coaches to be used for all new coaches to be introduced by Indian Railways in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express</span>

The 12385 / 12386 Howrah – Dhanbad Double Decker Express was an air conditioned superfast double-decker train of Indian Railways that use to connect the capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata to the city of Dhanbad, also known as the Coal Capital of India, in Jharkhand. It was the first air conditioned double-decker train of Indian Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli</span> Rail coach manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh

Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli or MCF Raebareli is a rail coach manufacturing unit of the Indian Railways at Lalganj near Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. The factory is one of the coach production unit of Indian Railways besides the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala in Punjab, Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra and Rail Coach Factory at Sonipat, Haryana. The factory was inaugurated on 7 November 2012. MCF Raebareli is one of the most advanced coach manufacturing unit of the world it is equipped with the many state of the art industrial robots and machines, on result making it require less manpower than other coach manufacturing units of Indian Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucknow–New Delhi AC Superfast Express</span>

Lucknow–New Delhi AC Superfast Express numbered 12429/30 is an ISO certified premier daily overnight service of AC Superfast Express type running between Lucknow Charbagh and New Delhi operated by Northern Railway zone. It is usually hauled by a Ghaziabad based Indian locomotive class WAP-7 locomotive, with occasional runs by WDP-4D twin locos of Tughlakabad or Alambagh shed, WAP5 Ghaziabad Shed, WAP4 Ghaziabad Shed and WAP1 Lucknow Shed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WAG-12</span> Indian Railway freight class high horsepower electric locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WAG-12B is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 2017 by Alstom with technological collaboration with Indian Railways. The model name stands for wide gauge (W), alternating current (A), goods traffic (G) locomotive-12. They entered trial service in 2019. A total of 450 WAG-12B have been built at Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura, Bihar, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express</span>

The 12583 / 12584 Lucknow Jn.–Anand Vihar Terminal AC Double Decker Express is an Indian Railways train running between Lucknow Junction and Anand Vihar Terminal. It is the ninth double decker train in India and is the first such service for the state of Uttar Pradesh. The train operates four days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from both ends. After Lucknow Mail, Lucknow–New Delhi AC Superfast Express, Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi Express and Gomti Express, it is the fifth dedicated train service between the national capital and the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. The other train service is by IRCTC by the name of Lucknow - New Delhi Tejas Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WAP-1</span> Indian Railway passenger class electric locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WAP-1 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1980 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive, 1st generation (1). They entered service in late 1981. A total of 65 WAP-1 were built at CLW between 1980 and 1996, which made them the most numerous class of mainline electric passenger locomotive until its successor, the WAP-4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A</span> Indian Railway freight class diesel locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WDG-3A is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1994 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW),Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad-gauge (W), Diesel (D), Goods traffic (G) engine, 3,100 hp (3A) locomotive. They entered service on 18 July 1995. A total of 1,164 WDG-3A units were built between 1994 and 2015 at BLW, Varanasi with a few units being produced by Diesel Loco Modernisation Works (DLMW) and Parel Workshop.

The Indian locomotive class WCM-2 was a class of 3 kV DC, later 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1956 by Vulcan Foundry and English Electric for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1957. A total of 12 WCM-2 locomotives were built in England between 1956 and 1957.

The Indian locomotive class WCM-3 was a class of 3 kV DC, later 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that were developed in 1958 by Hitachi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1958. A total of 3 WCM-3 locomotives were built in Japan in 1958.

The WDM-2G is a class of diesel electric genset locomotive used in Indian Railways. It is one of the rarest locomotives in India with only two units being produced by Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW). The locomotives were produced with an intention of being fuel efficient and to be used for light to medium duties such as short passenger runs along with occasional shunting. They are one of the only two classes of locomotives in India to feature multiple prime movers, the other example being WDS-6G, which was designed solely for shunting. They have a rated power of 2,400 HP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WAP-3</span> Indian Railway passenger class electric locomotive

The Indian locomotive class WAP-3 was a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was designed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways in 1987. The model name stands for Broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1988. They were the faster variant of the previous WAP-1 class. A total of 9 WAP-3 were converted from existing WAP-1 units at CLW between 1987 and 1988, but were later reverted back to WAP-1 specifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vande Bharat (Sleeper) Express</span> Upcoming AC Sleeper series of Indian semi-high speed EMU train services

Vande Bharat (Sleeper) Express is a planned medium to long-distance superfast express service by Indian Railways. It will be a reserved, air-conditioned sleeper service connecting cities that are 800 km (500 mi) to 1,200 km (750 mi) apart. It would be operated by self-propelling trainsets, designed and manufactured in India. The trainsets are expected to operate at speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph). The first prototype was rolled out by BEML in September 2024 and it is expected to enter commercial service in December 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 Rao, M.A. (1988). Indian Railways, New Delhi: National Book Trust, pp.217–28
  2. compiled and edited by Research, Reference and Training Division. (2007). India Yearbook 2007. Publications Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 819. ISBN   978-81-230-1423-4.{{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  3. Wadhwa, Gopal Krishan (September 2003). "An Overview of the R&D Center of Indian Railways" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review. 36 (September): 26–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
  4. "Salient Features of Indian Railways". Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 30 April 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  5. "Microsoft Word - publication_section" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "RDSO triple stack container trials on WDFC_DFCCIL". YouTube . 10 March 2022.
  8. "World's first 12,000 HP converted electric locomotive rolls out - ET EnergyWorld".
  9. "Welcome to Rdso".
  10. "In a First, RCF Kapurthala's Double-Decker Rail Coach with Passengers on Top and Cargo Below Coming Next Month". 30 July 2023.
  11. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/a-first-double-decker-coach-to-ferry-passengers-and-cargo-529895 [ bare URL ]
  12. Singh, Amarpal. "Ludhiana: Railways goes for electric lifting barriers at level crossings". Hindustan Times.
  13. "Indian Railways launches first mobile vehicle to test locomotive emissions". Railway Technology. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2020.