Indian Railways introduces centralised heating in Vande Bharat trains

27 Nov 2024 CW Team

Officials announced that the Indian Railways has introduced specialised features in Vande Bharat trains designed for the Kashmir region, including centralised heating systems. These trains, set to directly connect the Kashmir Valley for the first time, are expected to commence operations within this financial year. Designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures, these special variants will serve regions with extreme cold weather. A senior official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the chair car variant of the Vande Bharat rakes has been modified specifically for the Kashmir route. Key upgrades include specialised heating arrangements for plumbing and water tanks, embedded heating elements for the driver’s front look-out glass, and advanced safety features tailored for the harsh climate. Indian Railways aims to maintain a cabin temperature of 24 degrees Celsius in air-conditioned trains. The upcoming Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, costing Rs 370 billion, will connect Kashmir with the rest of India, bridging the connectivity gap between Jammu and Srinagar. Currently, rail travel extends only to Katra in Jammu. With this link, regions including Baramulla, Srinagar, Qazigund, Banihal, and Sangaldan will be part of the network, complemented by the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River. While the bridge is ready, some smaller connecting tunnels are nearing completion, with the entire route expected to be operational within weeks. Officials highlighted additional innovations, such as embedded heating elements in the driver’s front look-out glass to prevent frost build-up, a first for Indian Railways. Heating systems have also been integrated into the air dryer mechanism to ensure the proper functioning of brakes. To prevent water tanks from freezing, silicone heating pads (1800 W per tank) have been installed, along with self-regulating heating cables for plumbing. Furthermore, all water pipelines feature thermal insulation and heating cables to maintain functionality in sub-zero conditions.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..