From top: An RDSO expert records readings from sensors fitted to the compartment (below) to measure the distance between the platform and the footboard; An RDSO expert attaches a sensor to a compartment
Experts from Lucknow-based RDSO join railway officials and the HC-appointed committee to plug gap trap.
Two weeks after the Bombay High Court slammed the Western Railway (WR) and the Central Railway (CR) on the issue of the killer gaps between suburban railway platforms and train footboards, the railways on Monday launched a study to find out whether the height of the platforms could be raised beyond the maximum prescribed 920 mm.
The test rides are conducted from 11 pm to 3 am between Churchgate and Borivali, and involve a team from Lucknow-based Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) along with a 14-member team formed by the High Court.
In its observation on February 13, the High Court referred to a committee formed in 2011 in the wake of a public interest litigation filed in 2007.
Sudhir Badami, a civil engineer from IIT-Bombay with 40 years of professional experience, who was a member of that committee, had recommended in May 2012 that railways increase the height of platforms to 1,200 mm from the current range of 760-840 mm. Badami told the court that the railways hadn't even considered his recommendations.
Following Mumbai Mirror's Gap Trap campaign, Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha told the railways that, at times, they should listen to other people as well (High Court slams CR, WR for 'know-it-all' replies on killer gap, MM, February 14). "Why are you sticking to the 920 mm limit? You must try and find out the optimum upper limit to which the height of the platforms can be increased," the court asked.
The test rides
A 12-coach train is used for the test rides, and three of its bogies are fitted with sensors to calculate the distance between the footboard and the platform. The readings are taken when the train zips past the stations at top speed, as well as when it is stationary.
One of the bogies is stuffed with sand bags and rubble to ensure it weighs 36 tonnes (representing a jampacked compartment), the second bogie is partially loaded while the third is kept empty. The train leaves Churchgate station at 11 pm and the readings are taken at Charni Road, Grant Road, Parel, Elphinstone Road, Vile Parle, Dadar and Andheri, where height of the platforms has been raised to 920 mm.
On Monday, a Siemens-manufactured train equipped with air spring suspension was used for the test ride, and it clocked the top speed of 100 kmph. Over the next two days, an older rake and bogies of a long-distance train were used.
A WR official said that the RDSO experts from the Testing, Track and Carriage Directorate were involved in the drive, and the timing will not affect the schedule. "We have selected nine platforms whose height has been raised to 920 mm," the official said.
The 1,200mm problem
On Monday, the railway officials found that the sensors were damaged at Charni Road, while sensors were found damaged at Elphinstone Road station the next day. At Charni Road, an investigation revealed the platform's height was, in fact, 970 mm because of a cement layer. Even at Andheri, where the platforms' height has been raised to 920 mm, there was very little gap left between the footboard and the platform, the investigation revealed.
"There was a loud noise as the train passed Charni Road and emergency brakes had to be applied. The height of the platform was 970 mm. It seems unlikely that we will be able to raise the platforms' height to 1,200 mm, but further tests, using wooden planks to raise the platforms' height, will be done," a senior railway official said, adding that there have been discussions with Sudhir Badami.
The risks
The aim of these test rides is to find out whether trains will brush the platforms if their height is increased among other things. A senior railway official said, "Several factors have to be considered, such as the tracks could sink during rains, and also the wear and tear of the wheels. The RDSO will submit its recommendations, based on which a detailed report will be prepared and we will have a meeting with the HC-appointed committee around March 2."
Two weeks after the Bombay High Court slammed the Western Railway (WR) and the Central Railway (CR) on the issue of the killer gaps between suburban railway platforms and train footboards, the railways on Monday launched a study to find out whether the height of the platforms could be raised beyond the maximum prescribed 920 mm.
The test rides are conducted from 11 pm to 3 am between Churchgate and Borivali, and involve a team from Lucknow-based Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) along with a 14-member team formed by the High Court.
In its observation on February 13, the High Court referred to a committee formed in 2011 in the wake of a public interest litigation filed in 2007.
Sudhir Badami, a civil engineer from IIT-Bombay with 40 years of professional experience, who was a member of that committee, had recommended in May 2012 that railways increase the height of platforms to 1,200 mm from the current range of 760-840 mm. Badami told the court that the railways hadn't even considered his recommendations.
Following Mumbai Mirror's Gap Trap campaign, Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha told the railways that, at times, they should listen to other people as well (High Court slams CR, WR for 'know-it-all' replies on killer gap, MM, February 14). "Why are you sticking to the 920 mm limit? You must try and find out the optimum upper limit to which the height of the platforms can be increased," the court asked.
The test rides
A 12-coach train is used for the test rides, and three of its bogies are fitted with sensors to calculate the distance between the footboard and the platform. The readings are taken when the train zips past the stations at top speed, as well as when it is stationary.
One of the bogies is stuffed with sand bags and rubble to ensure it weighs 36 tonnes (representing a jampacked compartment), the second bogie is partially loaded while the third is kept empty. The train leaves Churchgate station at 11 pm and the readings are taken at Charni Road, Grant Road, Parel, Elphinstone Road, Vile Parle, Dadar and Andheri, where height of the platforms has been raised to 920 mm.
On Monday, a Siemens-manufactured train equipped with air spring suspension was used for the test ride, and it clocked the top speed of 100 kmph. Over the next two days, an older rake and bogies of a long-distance train were used.
A WR official said that the RDSO experts from the Testing, Track and Carriage Directorate were involved in the drive, and the timing will not affect the schedule. "We have selected nine platforms whose height has been raised to 920 mm," the official said.
The 1,200mm problem
On Monday, the railway officials found that the sensors were damaged at Charni Road, while sensors were found damaged at Elphinstone Road station the next day. At Charni Road, an investigation revealed the platform's height was, in fact, 970 mm because of a cement layer. Even at Andheri, where the platforms' height has been raised to 920 mm, there was very little gap left between the footboard and the platform, the investigation revealed.
"There was a loud noise as the train passed Charni Road and emergency brakes had to be applied. The height of the platform was 970 mm. It seems unlikely that we will be able to raise the platforms' height to 1,200 mm, but further tests, using wooden planks to raise the platforms' height, will be done," a senior railway official said, adding that there have been discussions with Sudhir Badami.
The risks
The aim of these test rides is to find out whether trains will brush the platforms if their height is increased among other things. A senior railway official said, "Several factors have to be considered, such as the tracks could sink during rains, and also the wear and tear of the wheels. The RDSO will submit its recommendations, based on which a detailed report will be prepared and we will have a meeting with the HC-appointed committee around March 2."
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