Guwahati, April 7 (IANS) The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has marked a significant milestone by deploying a suite of advanced, in-house developed technological tools to enhance the maintenance and safety of next-generation Vande Bharat Sleeper trains at the Kamakhya Coaching Depot, officials said on Tuesday.

NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said that developed using cutting-edge technology and aligned with advanced global benchmarks, these systems include a smart Air Spring Monitoring System, a Portable Vibration Monitoring System for real-time diagnostics, and an indigenously engineered External Pit Power Supply and Pre-cooling System.

It is pertinent to mention that India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express has been operational between Kamakhya and Howrah since January this year, ushering in a new era of world-class and comfortable rail travel, he said.

Sharma added that building on this, Northeast Frontier Railway has introduced advanced, in-house developed maintenance systems using cost-effective technologies.

He said NFR’s growing capability in adopting innovative and sustainable practices marks a significant step towards modernising maintenance for high-speed and premium train services.

Together, these state-of-the-art systems enhance safety, improve maintenance efficiency, and ensure reliable, high-performance operation of Vande Bharat sleeper coaches.

The Chief Public Relations Officer said that in a significant technological advancement, the Air Spring Monitoring System has been introduced to enable intelligent, condition-based monitoring of coaches.

The system ensures continuous tracking of critical parameters, early detection of anomalies, and precise validation through advanced acoustic imaging techniques.

This predictive, data-driven approach enhances operational reliability, strengthens safety standards, and ensures a smooth, comfortable travel experience for passengers.

Further strengthening its technological capability, NFR has introduced, for the first time, a Portable Vibration Monitoring System for real-time condition monitoring of rolling stock.

Currently deployed for Vande Bharat sleeper rakes at Kamakhya depot, the system enables early identification of potential issues and facilitates timely corrective action, thereby minimising failures and ensuring a seamless journey experience, Sharma said.

In another pioneering initiative, an External Pit Power Supply and Pre-cooling System has been indigenously designed and implemented, setting new benchmarks in safe and efficient maintenance practices.

This system enables safe maintenance of Vande Bharat sleeper coaches during overhead equipment shutdown by supplying power to essential onboard systems such as HVAC, lighting, and diagnostics.

It also eliminates the risk of electrocution for maintenance staff and significantly reduces rake turnaround time, ensuring better availability of high-quality, well-maintained coaches for passengers.

These initiatives reaffirm Northeast Frontier Railway’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology, strengthening safety frameworks, and delivering a superior, comfortable travel experience to passengers in line with advanced global benchmarks.

–IANS

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