Commissioning of Electric Traction

Introduction of AC traction on a zonal railway requires careful planning and staffing.

A training school for maintenance, operation, and running staff must be organized well in advance of AC traction implementation.

Recruiting and training maintenance and operating staff, and converting running staff from steam/diesel is a critical step, ideally starting a year before energization.

Inspectorial staff must be positioned to manage compliance with standards and train operating department staff.

Adding personnel to support joint checks and defect rectification is needed 3 months before commissioning.

Facilities for OHE (Overhead Electrical Equipment) and PSI (Power Supply Inspection) depots and workshops need to be completed and equipped in advance.

If a loco-shed is part of the project, staff needs to be posted early to prepare facilities and manage plant machinery.

Establishing good relationships with the construction organisation to efficiently use resources is important during set-up.

Officers can select staff through various channels like direct recruitment, other units, or contractors to fill different roles.

Placing key officers in good time allows the establishment of a good rapport and maximum utilization of construction resources.

Training program for steam and diesel drivers to operate electric rolling stock, covering theoretical and practical aspects including road rules for electric trains.

Documents created showing connections between locomotives and schedules for train crews.

Training and potentially hiring of maintenance technicians whose roles become obsolete due to electrification.

Oversees the construction, testing, and commissioning of railway installations, ensuring adherence to standards and timely completion.

All installations must conform to pre-approved standards; deviations require permission from governing bodies like Railway Board or RDSO.

Construction progress must meet deadlines set by the Railway Board.

Obtaining necessary materials, transport, and equipment (like inspection cars) for the new electric railway installations.

Establishing the timeframe for starting operation of installations, made in consultation with the CEE, the Open Line's Electrical Engineer.

Providing all approved documents (specifications, contracts, letters) to the CEE of the Open Line. Providing copies of instructions and specifications to relevant staff for distribution.

Final construction drawings including modifications, signed by the contractor.

Testing the correct tripping of circuit breakers when a fault occurs on a 25 kV busbar. This tests the coordination between grid and traction substation relays, ensuring grid breakers don't trip for a 25kV fault.

Keeping transformers energized and closely monitored (first three days, then weekly and bi-weekly inspections) to identify and address any problems. Checks for tripping identify the cause and any relay operation.

The Buchholz relay may trip when a transformer is energized for the first time because of air bubbles being released. This often requires a careful investigation beyond initial observation.

Expanding 25kV power supply to feeding posts after all work is completed. This happens only after safety precautions are taken.

Formal approval from the Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) and Electrical Inspector is needed for high-voltage equipment (traction substations, lines, 25 kV feeders, etc).

Application for high voltage energization must include supporting documents such as press cuttings of public notifications, OHE certificates, bonding and earthing certifications safety instructions and precaution certificates and DRM safety precautions certificates, insulation resistance test results from OHE, etc.

The time period (12 or 18 months, whichever is earlier) after commissioning or supply, during which the supplier is responsible for equipment defects.

The date when equipment is energized and ready for operation.

Immediately notifying the supplier of any equipment issues during the guarantee period.

Open Line Railway Engineers maintain the equipment during the guarantee period, but the supplier is responsible for repairs.

The supplier's obligation to fix equipment defects during the guarantee period.

The agreement between the buyer and supplier for equipment.

A record of equipment defects and deficiencies maintained by the Open Line Officer in order to keep track for the supplier.

Certificates signifying completion of a project, releasing the contractor's responsibility.

Specific terms in a contract a contractor agrees to uphold.

Formal announcement to the public about the activation of electrical systems.

A document signed by senior electrical and other officers for overhead lines.

Certification that electrical grounding systems comply with safety regulations.

Certifies adherence to safety guidelines by divisional staff.

A DRM's verification of safety measures implemented on the railway.

Approval from the Chief Electrical Engineer and inspector for energization.

Certification from the Science & Technology department, relevant to railway safety issues.

Approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Process of introducing or expanding electric traction on a railway line, requiring detailed planning and efficient operation of new installations.

Open Line's Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) must oversee operational readiness, staff training, and installation inspection, ensuring timely commissioning and efficient operation.

A team created to manage the operation and maintenance of an electrified section after commissioning.

Open Line's system for organizing inspections of works and transfer of responsibility for new electrified railway section.

A crucial phase to train operating and maintenance staff to manage the electrified section before taking it over.

Formal process for energizing installations (substations, switching stations, OHE), requiring inspection and approval.

Activities after the official commissioning of an electrified section, focusing on ensuring ongoing operation and maintenance.

Implementation of alternating current traction on a railway zone.

Creating a training facility for maintenance, operation, and running staff before AC traction introduction.

Hiring and training maintenance and operating staff for electric services. Conversion training for steam/diesel staff included.

Assigning inspectors to ensure compliance with the standards and train operating department staff.

Increasing the size of the organization three months before commissioning to do specific tasks efficiently.

Completing facilities for Overhead Electrical Equipment (OHE) and Power Supply Inspection (PSI) depots and workshops.

Getting loco sheds ready for new electric locomotives, including facilities, tools, and machinery.

Building good relationships with construction units to make the most of their resources during the setup.

Finding and hiring staff for different jobs through direct recruitment, existing railway units, or external contractors.

Placing key officers early allows good relations with the construction organization and maximum resource use.

A test to ensure circuit breakers trip correctly when a short circuit occurs on the 25 kV busbar. This also verifies proper coordination between grid and traction substation relays.

Keeping transformers energized and closely monitored for the first three days, then weekly, and then bi-weekly to identify and solve any problems.

A relay that might activate when a transformer is initially energized due to the release of air bubbles trapped during oil filling. It necessitates careful investigation.

Expanding the 25 kV power supply to feeding posts once all associated work is complete and safety precautions are taken.

Formal approval required from the Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) and Electrical Inspector for high-voltage installations (e.g., traction substations, transmission lines).

Supporting documents needed with the application for energization of high-voltage installations. This includes public notifications, certificates for OHE, bonding/earthing, safety instructions, DRM's safety precautions, and OHE insulation test results.

An agreement between a buyer (e.g., the railway) and a supplier (manufacturer) for equipment.

The period (12 or 18 months, whichever is earlier) after equipment commissioning or supply, during which the supplier is responsible for defects.

The official date when equipment is energized and ready for operation.

Immediately informing the supplier about any equipment issues during the guarantee period.

Open Line Railway Engineers maintain equipment during the guarantee period; the supplier handles repairs.

The supplier's obligation to fix equipment defects during the guarantee period.

A record of equipment defects and deficiencies that the Open Line Officer keeps.

The process of making electrical equipment operational by connecting to the power source.

Implementation of alternating current electricity for train movement on a specific rail section.

Structures installed at level crossings to ensure road vehicles don't collide with high-voltage overhead lines during AC electrification.

Electric wires above the tracks that supply power to trains for AC traction.

Electrical connections to ground to ensure safety by preventing the build-up of potentially dangerous voltages in different parts of the electric system.

A form for announcing the introduction of 25 kV AC Traction to the public.

A form for certifying the Overhead Line Equipment (OHE) is correctly installed and meets required specifications.

A form for certifying correct bonding and earthing of electrical installations.