India’s first indigenously-made aluminium freight train rake

• The Indian Railways recently flagged off the first indigenously-made aluminium goods train rake in Odisha.

• The aluminium goods train was jointly developed by Besco Limited Wagon Division and aluminium major Hindalco.

• It is developed based on the designs approved by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO).

• The wagon was made using high-strength aluminium alloy plates and extrusion, indigenously developed by Hindalco’s rolling facility in Hirakud, Odisha.

• The aluminium rake is 180 tonnes lighter than the existing steel rake. This has increased the travel speed and minimized the power consumption for the same distance.

• It can carry 5-10% additional payload while consuming lesser energy.