Railway Technical Specifications
Master Indian Railways’ technical specifications and engineering details for RRB exam preparation with comprehensive coverage of rolling stock, infrastructure, and operations.
Rolling Stock Specifications
Locomotives
Diesel Locomotives
- WDM Series: Broad gauge diesel locomotives
- WDM-2: 2600 HP, most common diesel locomotive
- WDM-3A: 3100 HP, upgraded version
- WDM-3D: 3300 HP, modern variant
- WDG Series: Diesel locomotives for freight trains
- WDP Series: Diesel locomotives for passenger trains
Electric Locomotives
- WAP Series: Electric locomotives for passenger trains
- WAP-1: 3800 HP, first AC electric locomotive
- WAP-4: 5350 HP, high-speed passenger locomotive
- WAP-5: 5400 HP, 160 km/h capability
- WAP-7: 6350 HP, most powerful passenger locomotive
Electric Locomotives for Freight
- WAG Series: Electric locomotives for freight trains
- WAG-5: 3850 HP, freight locomotive
- WAG-7: 5000 HP, heavy freight locomotive
- WAG-9: 6350 HP, modern freight locomotive
- WAG-12: 12000 HP, most powerful locomotive in India
Electric Multiple Units (EMU)
- Local Trains: 9-car, 12-car configurations
- Speed: 100-120 km/h
- Power: 4-6 motor coaches per train
- Voltage: 25 kV AC traction
Coaches and Wagons
Passenger Coaches
-
ICF Coaches: Integral Coach Factory design
- Length: 23.54 meters
- Weight: 47-55 tons
- Speed: 110 km/h
- Capacity: 90-110 passengers per coach
-
LHB Coaches: Linke Hofmann Busch design
- Length: 23.5 meters
- Weight: 40-48 tons
- Speed: 160 km/h
- Safety: Anti-climbing features, center buffer couplers
Coaching Stock Types
- AC Coaches: First AC, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier
- Sleeper Coaches: AC 3-tier, Sleeper class
- Seating Coaches: AC chair car, Second sitting
- Special Coaches: Pantry car, luggage van, guard van
Freight Wagons
- BOXN Wagons: Box wagons for general cargo
- Capacity: 58-81 tons
- Load Type: Packaged goods, containers
- BCN Wagons: Covered box wagons
- BOY Wagons: Open wagons for coal
- Tank Wagons: For liquid cargo
- Flat Wagons: For containers, vehicles
Track Infrastructure
Track Specifications
Rail Sections
- 52 kg/m: Standard rail for main lines
- 60 kg/m: Heavy rail for high-traffic routes
- 90R: Rail profile for branch lines
- Standard Length: 13 meters (previously 12 meters)
Track Gauges
- Broad Gauge: 1676 mm (5 feet 6 inches)
- Coverage: 90% of railway network
- Usage: Main lines, high-speed routes
- Meter Gauge: 1000 mm (3 feet 3.375 inches)
- Conversion: Being converted to broad gauge
- Narrow Gauge: 762 mm, 610 mm
- Usage: Hill railways, heritage routes
Track Structure
- Ballast: Crushed stone, 250-300 mm depth
- Sleepers: Concrete sleepers (standard), wooden sleepers (heritage)
- Fastenings: Elastic rail clips, Pandrol clips
- Rail Joints: Welded rails (continuous), fish plates (jointed)
Signaling Systems
Block Signaling
- Absolute Block: Safe distance between trains
- Automatic Block: Signals controlled by track occupancy
- Centralized Traffic Control (CTC): Remote signal control
- Automatic Train Control (ATC): Speed control and protection
Signal Types
- Semaphore Signals: Traditional mechanical signals
- Color Light Signals: Modern electric signals
- Red: Stop
- Yellow: Caution, proceed prepared to stop
- Green: Proceed
- Double Yellow: Proceed, next signal is caution
Interlocking Systems
- Route Relay Interlocking: Automatic route setting
- Electronic Interlocking: Modern computerized system
- Panel Interlocking: Manual control with indication
Station Infrastructure
Station Types
Station Categories
- A-1 Stations: Major metropolitan stations
- Revenue: ₹100 crore+ annually
- Examples: Mumbai CST, Delhi, Howrah, Chennai Central
- A Stations: Major junctions
- B Stations: Important stops
- C-E Stations: Smaller stations based on traffic
Platform Specifications
- Length: 650-725 meters for long trains
- Height: 840 mm (standard)
- Width: 5-12 meters depending on traffic
- Surface: Concrete, asphalt, or stone
Station Buildings
- Station Masters: Control room, ticketing, announcements
- Waiting Rooms: Air-conditioned, general, ladies
- Platforms: Covered platforms, FOBs, escalators
- Amenities: Retiring rooms, food stalls, bookstalls
Yard Infrastructure
Yard Types
- Passenger Yards: Train stabling, maintenance
- Freight Yards: Marshalling, loading/unloading
- Loco Sheds: Locomotive maintenance, servicing
- Wash Depots: Train cleaning, water filling
Marshalling Yards
- Classification: Sorting wagons by destination
- Hump Yards: Gravity-assisted sorting
- Flat Yards: Shunting locomotive-based sorting
- Major Yards: Mughalsarai (Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya), Vadodara, Bhusawal
Bridge and Tunnel Infrastructure
Major Bridges
Bridge Types
- Truss Bridges: Steel truss construction
- Arch Bridges: Masonry arches for heritage lines
- Cantilever Bridges: For long spans
- Beam Bridges: Simple supported spans
Notable Bridges
- Digha-Sonepur Rail-Road Bridge: 4.56 km over Ganga
- Godavari Bridge: 2.7 km, one of the longest
- Vembanad Bridge: 4.62 km in Kerala
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu: 5.75 km, though primarily road bridge
Tunnel Infrastructure
Tunnel Specifications
- Standard Gauge: Single and double track tunnels
- Ventilation: Natural and mechanical ventilation
- Lighting: LED lighting systems
- Safety: Emergency exits, communication systems
Major Tunnels
- Pir Panjal Tunnel: 11.2 km in Jammu and Kashmir
- Karbude Tunnel: 6.5 km on Konkan Railway
- Bhatan Tunnel: 6.5 km on Konkan Railway
- Natmal Tunnel: 4.3 km in Uttarakhand
Electrical Infrastructure
Traction Systems
Electrification Systems
- 25 kV AC: Standard traction system
- 1.5 kV DC: Legacy systems (being converted)
- 2×25 kV AC: For heavy freight corridors
- Coverage: 70% of broad gauge network electrified
Overhead Equipment
- Catenary System: Contact wire, messenger wire
- Height: 5.2-6.5 meters above rail level
- Tension: Automatic tensioning system
- Structures: Steel masts, concrete portals
Substations
- Traction Substations: Step-down transformers
- Capacity: 5-10 MVA depending on traffic
- Spacing: 50-80 km apart
- Equipment: Transformers, switchgear, protection systems
Communication Systems
Train Control Communication
Signaling Communication
- Block Instruments: Manual block signaling
- Block Proving: Automatic track circuiting
- Axle Counters: Train detection system
- VHF Communication: Train crew communication
Modern Systems
- GSM-R: Global System for Mobile Communications - Railway
- Fiber Optic: High-speed data transmission
- Satellite Communication: Remote area connectivity
- Data Loggers: Performance monitoring
Passenger Information Systems
Display Systems
- Arrival/Departure Boards: LED displays
- Platform Displays: Train information
- Announcement Systems: Audio announcements
- Mobile Apps: Real-time train tracking
Ticketing Systems
- PRS: Passenger Reservation System
- UTS: Unreserved Ticketing System
- Online Booking: IRCTC portal
- Mobile Ticketing: IRCTC app, UTS app
Safety Systems
Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
- TPWS: Train Protection and Warning System
- AWBS: Automatic Warning and Braking System
- ATC: Automatic Train Control
- AFTC: Automatic Fire and Train Control
Collision Avoidance
- Anti-Collision Device (ACD): GPS-based system
- Train Protection Warning System (TPWS): Speed enforcement
- Kavach: Indigenous ATP system being developed
Safety Equipment
Rolling Stock Safety
- Air Brakes: Westinghouse air brake system
- Disc Brakes: For high-speed trains
- Emergency Brakes: Manual and automatic systems
- Fire Suppression: Fire detection and suppression
Track Safety
- Track Circuits: Detection of track occupation
- Hot Box Detectors: Overheated axle detection
- Wheel Impact Load Detectors: Defective wheel detection
- Track Geometry Cars: Track condition monitoring
Performance Specifications
Speed Limits
Different Speed Categories
- Mail/Express Trains: 110-160 km/h
- Superfast Trains: 110-130 km/h
- Passenger Trains: 80-110 km/h
- Freight Trains: 60-75 km/h
- EMU/MEMU: 80-100 km/h
Section Speeds
- Golden Quadrilateral: 160 km/h capable
- High-Speed Corridors: 200 km/h planned
- Dedicated Freight Corridors: 100 km/h
- Hill Sections: 30-50 km/h
Load Capacity
Axle Load Limits
- Broad Gauge Main Lines: 22.9 tons
- Heavy Haul Routes: 25 tons
- Branch Lines: 16-20 tons
- Heritage Lines: 12-15 tons
Train Loading
- Passenger Trains: 20-24 coaches (500-1500 tons)
- Freight Trains: 58-60 wagons (4000-5000 tons)
- Container Trains: 45-50 containers (3500+ tons)
- Heavy Haul: Specialized trains (6000+ tons)
Practice Questions
Question 1
What is the horsepower of WAG-12 locomotive, the most powerful locomotive in India?
Question 2
Which series of electric locomotives is specifically designed for passenger trains?
Question 3
What is the standard gauge width of Indian Railways broad gauge?
Question 4
What is the maximum speed capability of LHB coaches?
Question 5
Which signaling system uses red, yellow, and green colors for train control?
Question 6
What is the standard rail section used for main lines in Indian Railways?
Question 7
What is the voltage of the standard traction system in Indian Railways?
Question 8
What is the length of standard passenger coaches in Indian Railways?
Question 9
Which tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in India?
Question 10
What is the axle load limit on main lines of Indian Railways?
Important Technical Facts
Record Specifications
- Longest Platform: Gorakhpur (1,366 meters)
- Highest Station: Ghum (2,258 meters) on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
- Longest Tunnel: Pir Panjal Tunnel (11.2 km)
- Highest Bridge: Chenab Bridge (359 meters) under construction
- Fastest Train: Vande Bharat Express (180 km/h operational)
Modernization Projects
- Dedicated Freight Corridors: Eastern and Western DFC
- High-Speed Rail: Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor
- Station Redevelopment: Major stations modernization
- Track Doubling: Single to double track conversion
- Electrification: Complete route electrification target
BETA
