INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AT R.C.F ( Rail Coach Factory )

Taking into account country’s large population, a proper system of transportation is inevitable. No doubt that the country’s Railway is taking care of this problem.

The demand of more and more passenger trains is the result of the country’s ever increasing prosperity and population. The decision to set up a Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala, Punjab In August’85 was a timely step towards making good shortfall and complementing the coach manufacturing capacity of Railway’s other manufacturing units.

The foundation stone of this factory was laid by the Honorable Prime Minister (Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi) of India on 17^th August 1985. It is located 9 kms. From Kapurthala, near the Jalandhar –Ferozepur railway line and state highway, near the Hussainpur village.

Land acquisition proceeding was initiated by Punjab govt. and possession of land was given to railways in March’86. In spite of difficulties this target was achieve and first coach was rolled out well within time on 31/03/88. With the consummate effort of both executive and workers the factory produced 120 coaches during 1988-89 and henceforth the factory became self-reliant to turn out coaches with its own components and subassemblies.

Initially R.C.F was producing the coaches based on design of I.C.F, Madras. In 1991-92 R.C.F started producing the coaches on new design develop indigenously.

During year 2001-02, R.C.F has manufactured, 1250 coaches having 974 non-AC and 276 AC. It also worthwhile to mention here that R.C.F has also manufactured 76 M.G coaches for Vietnam.

During recent development R.C.F is now started manufacturing the new series of L.H.B coaches with the help of agreement of German Technology in design and manufacturing. These are the high speed coaches are cleared to run at 160Kmph bogies of these coaches will also be manufactured here with the help of M/S FIAT bogie. The transfer of technology agreement envisages transfer of technology in design, manufacturing and assistance maintenance engineering of this state of art coaches.

RCF has manufactured Double Decker Coaches during 2001-02 for the first time. The double Decker coaches have sitting capacity of 150 compared to 90 in conventional coaches and much improved riding quality. RCF has manufactured 30 coaches during the year.

Shri Nitish Kumar, Hon’ble Minister for railways inaugurated the first fire proof coach Manufactured by RCF Kapurthala on 21^st September 2003.  First RCF has absorbed the transfer of technology from LHB (Germany) and successfully manufactured three new design LHB rakes for the prestigious Rajdhani express. Secondly, after the godhra accident, Rail coach factory and integral coach factory were given the task of developing fire proof coach and manufactured the first Prototype Fire Proof Coach of Indian Railways within the targeted time.

                                                                          

Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala got another feather in its cap when it was awarded with Greentech Safety Silver award for the year 2002-2003 for industrial safety and Environmental Protection. The award was given by Hon’ble Smt. Jayawanti Mehta, Union Minister of Power, and Govt. of India on 26^th June, 2003 at Hotel Cidade De Goa, Madgaon. 

TYPES OF COACHES MANUFACTURED IN RCF

(1)       NON-AC COACHES:- 

GS	General Second Class
SCN	Sleeper Class
SLR	Sleeper Luggage Rack
ART/SV	Accident Relief Train/Staff Van
ART/TV	Accident Relief Train/Tool Van
MEMU/DMC	Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit/Driving Motor Car
MEMU/TC	Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit/ Trailer Car
DMU	Diesel Multiple Unit
RA	Railway Administration
VP	Parcel Van
PV	Postal Van
MGGS	Meter Gauge Sleeper Luggage Rack
MGSCN	Meter Gauge General Second Class
MGSLR	Meter Gauge Sleeper Class

(2)       AC COACHES:-

ACCAN/SG or 3T/SG	AC 3- Tier Self Generation
ACCW/SG or 2T/SG	Ac 2-Tier Self Generation
First Class AC/SG	AC Self Generation
ACCN or 3T/EOG	AC 3-Tier End on Generation
ACCW or 2T/EOG	AC 2-Tier End on Generation
First Class EOG	First Class End on Generation
LHB	AC 3 Tier & chair car

(3)       HIGH SPEED COACHES IRY TYPE:

IRY/HA, IRY/HE, IRY/PC, IRY/HG, IRY/HTRC, PSC.

The maximum speed of IRY caches is 160 Km/hr. The design of coaches of class IRZ is under construction, which can run at maximum speed of 180 Km/hr.                                                       

(4)       MANUFACTURING RANGE OF RCF

Ø    First AC Sleeper coach.

Ø    Two Tier Ac Sleeper Coach.

Ø    Three Tier AC Sleeper Coach.

Ø    Ac inspection Coach.

Ø    AC Chair car, Executive class and economy   class.

Ø    MG Diesel Electrical Multiple Units.

Ø    Mainline Electrical Multiple Units.

Ø    Non-AC Sleeper Class Coach.

Ø    Non-AC General Coach.

Ø    Refrigerated Parcel Van.

Ø    Accident Relief Train.

Ø    Coach Container Flats.

Ø    Double Decker Coach.

Ø    Ac Buffet Car.