The Lucknow-based Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of the Indian Railways is working on a project to run the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trains. The idea is to cut down the huge fuel bill of the Railways by replacing diesel with the cheaper CNG, and also reduce pollution.

Already, the RDSO is running a dual fuel train, which uses a mix of CNG and diesel, between Delhi and Faridabad.

“We have been successful in modifying the existing diesel multiple unit (engine). The dual fuel train is being run with a mixture of diesel and CNG in the first phase. This has cut short the diesel requirement,” said Brijesh Gupta, the executive director, administration, of RDSO. We will gradually make it an entirely CNG-driven engine, he added. The RDSO took up the Rs 22 crore project nearly 18 months ago against the backdrop of increasing concern on environment protection. 

The indigenously developed dual fuel engine became operational with the help of Cummins, a Pune-based company.  The Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train between Delhi and Faridabad was launched in March. “This train can run at a speed of 100 km per hour,” said an official. “So far the results are good. We are observing its functioning before it is launched countrywide. After two months, we will send a report to the Railway Ministry,” said Gupta.     

“The DMU train has 14 bogies. At present, it has fuel composition of 75 per cent diesel and 25 per cent CNG. Our aim is to take the CNG usage up to 95 per cent,” said Railwaya spokesperson Anil Saxena.

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