The city will see the first of its three-phase Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains with Southern Railway replacing the conventional rake of train number 06478/06477 Mangaluru Central-Kannur-Mangaluru Central Unreserved Express Special on 26 January.
While MEMU coaches have higher carrying capacity than conventional coaches, the main advantage would be that the rake does not require loco reversal as the motor car coaches at both ends can move the rake in either direction. Mangaluru Central being a dead-end station, loco reversal was mandatory and with a MEMU train, considerable operational time could now be saved.
Swadeshi Memu
A 12-coach MEMU train with three motor cars and nine trailer cars powered by an indigenously manufactured three-phase AC system by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai will be deployed in place of the conventional rake.
While each motor car can accommodate 55 seated and 171 standing passengers, each trailer car will have 84 seated and 271 standing passengers. Thus, a 12-coach three-stage MEMU can seat 3,603 passengers, 921 in total and accommodate 2,682 passengers. On the other hand a conventional MEMU can carry a total of 2,634 passengers.
passenger amenities
The steel body coaches with easy to slide, light weight sliding doors and fiber reinforced polymer interior panels will also have CCTV surveillance system and LED lights. GPS based Passenger Information System, Public Announcement System, Bio-toilets in trailer cars are other features. The cabins of the motormen and guards are air-conditioned. The three-stage MEMU rake with insulated-gate bipolar transistor facilitates superior acceleration and braking performance, even as the regenerative braking system can help save up to 35% of energy compared to conventional MEMUs. The electricity generated from this will be fed back into the grid.
The Driver Display Unit, a 10.4-inch touch screen touch screen in motor cars, will provide information about train control and monitoring systems to assist the motorman in operating the rake. The coaches have air springs as secondary stage suspension and as a safety feature, the DDU will signal to the motorman any failure to limit the train speed to 55 kmph.
the schedule
Train No. 06477 is scheduled to reach Mangaluru Central at 7.40 AM from Kannur at 10.55 AM, in the return direction, Train No. 06478 at 5.05 PM to reach Kannur from Mangaluru Central at 8.40 AM. Evening service is extensively attended by students and regular commuters. is protected. ,