Maligaon, Oct 21: A landmark event was recorded today on 21st October, 2021 with the arrival of first electric train at Kamakhya station of Lumding division of Northeast Frontier Railway.
After successful of completion of Railway Electrification works up to Kamakhya station and authorization granted by CRS and N. F. Circle after inspection from 7th to 9th October, the section from New Coochbehar to Kamakhya was opened for operation of Electric Traction.
The first ever electric train, i.e. NTSK and Parcel was received at Kamakhya station at 09:20 hours today. As such, this was a historical moment and a landmark achievement for N. F. Railway and NE region.
With this, total 760 Route KM/1701 Track KM has been electrified on N. F. Railway. This works have been carried out by Central Organization for Railway Electrification and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
Up till now, the trains with electric locomotives were coming from Katihar and Malda up to New Coochbehar, where electric loco was being detached from train and diesel locomotive was being attached for its onward journey.
Now with the completion of Railway Electrification works and commissioning of the section up to Kamakhya, these trains will come directly up to Kamakhya without change of traction. As such, there will be direct connectivity from New Delhi to Kamakhya on Electric Traction without change of locomotive enroute.
At this point, it is worthwhile to note the numerous inherent benefits of electric traction i.e. higher speed potential enabling faster trains, saving of time and energy, increase energy efficiency with higher power to weight ratio, regenerative breaking, higher hauling capacity with high horse power locomotives, improve reliability and line capacity, pollution free mode of transportation, cost effective due to lesser maintenance and operating cost etc.
