The local train is the pulse of Mumbai. They are major transport medium used by a large portion of the population. People traveling in the locals have experienced inconvenience due to improper lighting. However, the dim tube lights and flicking bulbs with cobwebs covering the frame of the coaches of the local trains will be a thing of the past. The Western Railways have taken up the task of replacing incandescent tube lights with LEDs.
The implementation of LEDs has already been started by the Western Railway (WR). The authorities are installing 23,200 LEDs in their fleet of 102 rakes running on the suburban section. The basic feature of LED makes it safe due to the absence of mercury. The LED tube gives a daytime like lighting even during the night.
“We have begun work and replaced regular lights with LEDs in 23 rakes. By December this year all the rakes shall have LEDs. This will be at a cost of Rs. 1.20 crore,” said Ravinder Bhakar, Chief PRO, Western Railway.
The implementation is cost effective as well as energy saving. The installation of LED tube lights will eventually help authorities save approximately Rs 91,000 per rake annually. The consumption of electricity will also come down with each rake saving around 16,500 units per year, as LEDs have a longer life compared to regular tube lights. The authorities began the work of installing LEDs in coaches of local trains in March end.
This comes after lighting fixtures at all railway stations were replaced with LEDs. The Railways have installed LEDs on 726 stations on the entire WR that is set to result in savings of Rs 5 crore and 6.83 million units of electricity every year.
