September 08, 2008

Indian Railways and Kirloskar to develop road railers

It is reported that Indian Railways and Kirloskar Pneumatics have signed a MoU for developing road railers used for inter modal transport and that can run on both roads and rail tracks, for a pilot project. This project is being worked with an aim to tap the high value lighter goods, which are moved in truckloads and not in trains. The project will be completed in about a year.

A railway ministry source said that “The agreement is for a pilot project, wherein Kirloskar would develop and run a road railer in about a year. Since the road railer has to ply on roads as well, there will be a load restriction.”

Kirloskar would develop and run the road railer with the help of technologies from Australian or US based firms. Indian Railways has provided certain level of haulage charges to Kirloskar for moving the road railers, based on which the firm has to work out the business plan for the product.

The cost element is the key to the project because while a rake of wagons costs about INR 12 crore, the road railers may cost about INR 25 crore.