Connectivity of track machine plant to railway network through siding at Lakodara station

Speedy & Seamless Dispatch of Track Machines to Various Zonal Railways will be Ensured

In a major breakthrough, Western Railway has commissioned a siding at Lakodara station of Vadodara division and ensure to provide direct rail connectivity of manufacturing plant with Indian Railways network for speedy transportation of track machines by Plasser (I) at Karjan near Vadodara. It will facilitate hasslefree and seamless transportation of Track Machines from this plant to various zonal railways.

According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Earlier the Track Machines made by this plant were being sent to other nearest siding of Vadodara station. Therefore, the transportation of these track machines was taking more time. In order to ensure speedy delivery of Track machines to various Zonal Railways, now this manufacturing plant has been connected to Railways network through a siding at Lakodara station of WR in Vadodara division to ensure seamless dispatch of Track Machines to different zonal railways of railway network.

It is worth mentioning that Indian Railways serves as the backbone of India’s transportation requirements and is instrumental in augmenting the India’s growth story. As Indian Railways are expanding their rail network and with greater emphasis on machine based maintenance, the need of the Track machines is also being increased accordingly.

As these machines play a major role to ensure the safety requirements of passenger and freight trains, this aspect has necessitated a huge requirement of Track machines which are mostly manufactured by Plasser (I).

Apart from supply of machines to zonal railways, this plant will also be exporting machines to different countries. While existing manufacturing plant of plasser (I) at Faridabad will continue its production of 35 to 40 machines of smaller sizes, this plant at Karjan will produce 100 machines of bigger size like BCM, SBCM , HOT -3 X etc. This will give big boost to the growth of local industries and companies mainly in Ahemdabad and Vadodara areas as well as in other nearby states.

WR will provide pilot for dispatch of machines and will arrange comfortable stay to the staff coming for inspection and taking over the machines at Karjan plant. It is also pertinent to mention that Track Machines are mostly supplied by Plasser(I) to IR through their existing facility with the support from their parent company Plasser & Theurer, Vienna which has a limited capacity of 40 machines in a year.

This set up will also support export business of Plasser(I) under “Make in India” and manufacture more than 100 machines in a year. During the year 2021, Plasser (I) is expected to supply 135 Track Machines from their newly set up plant at Karjan. This newly commissioned plant for manufacturing of track machines by Plasser (I) with an investment of Rs 700 Cr was started in November, 2019.

The manufacturing unit emerges from the thought process of manufacturing the product locally in India, which will reduce costs, lead time, dependency on imports and also increase market competiveness.

Further this set up will be used for overhauling of certain Core components required for Track machines to safe resources and provide technical support to users of machines. The new manufacturing unit is also housing a state of the art training centre for machine operators, various technical courses are for safe and efficient operation of Track machines.

An additional Service centre is also part of this unit where Service engineers are stationed to cater to the demands of all Zonal Railways related to the Western region of India in order to reduce traveling time and guaranteeing prompt availability of Service for best customer satisfaction.