Railway conducts successful trial of first electric locomotive on Badarpur-Silchar railway route, Paves way for electrification in Barak Valley

In a significant leap forward for Barak Valley’s railway infrastructure, the first trial of an electric locomotive was conducted on Thursday, marking a promising milestone in the region’s rail electrification project. The successful test run, from Badarpur to Silchar and back, has left railway authorities optimistic about the future of electrification.

The locomotive, commencing its journey at 4:10 pm from Badarpur, swiftly reached Silchar at 5:24 pm. Following a brief interval, it departed for Badarpur again at 5:50 pm and concluded its journey at 7:00 pm. The trial, spanning approximately 30 kilometres, was executed without a hitch, bringing jubilation among railway officials.

Divisional Electronic Engineer TRD, Lumding, Vinod Prasad, expressed his contentment and explained that a final inspection will be held in the next 4-5 days. The trial run was meticulously conducted to ensure all systems were in order before the crucial inspection.

Prasad elaborated, “We wanted to check everything before the final inspection of electrification work on Badarpur-Silchar route. Hence this trial run. The good news is that the trial run of the first electric locomotive has been successful, and there was no problem. The locomotive has been successfully tested for about 30 kilometres. Now our next target is electrification on the Badarpur-Dharmanagar route, and the work is in full swing.”

This momentous step toward electrification not only promises environmental benefits but also enhances the efficiency and reliability of railway operations in Barak Valley, bringing a brighter future for its residents.