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MEMU

For other uses, see Electric multiple unit.
MEMU
A 3rd-generation MEMU train produced by RCF rest at Bandel
A 3rd-generation MEMU train produced by RCF rest at Bandel
Overview
OwnerIndian Railways
Area servedIndia
Transit typeRegional rail/Commuter rail
Operation
Began operation1995
Operator(s)Indian Railways
Reporting marksIR
Train length12 coaches
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV AC Overhead line
Top speed110 km/h (68 mph)

In Indian Railways, a MEMU is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train that serves short and medium-distance routes in India, as compared to normal EMU trains that connect urban and suburban areas. The acronym stands for Mainline Electric Multiple Unit.[1]

History

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Indian Railways (IR) started MEMU service on Asansol – Adra section on 15 July 1995 and on Kharagpur – Tata section on 22 July 1995. Delhi-Panipat MEMU service started on 27 September 1995. Raipur–Durg–Bhatapara–Raipur–Bilaspur MEMU service started on 17 October 1995. Arakkonam-Jolarpettai MEMU service on 22 May 2000. Bankura-Midnapore MEMU started on 30 June 2000. The first 20 coach MEMU ran between Surat to Virar in 2017. Since 2019, 3-phase MEMUs have started replacing existing MEMU rakes.[2]

New 3rd generation was rolled out from RCF Kapurthala with following features:

  1. Ethernet-based Train Control Management System which provides advanced control features
  2. designed for speeds of up to 110 kmph
  3. Energy efficient LED lights have been provided with 50 percent emergency lights in each coach
  4. train is equipped with the latest GPS-based public address and passenger information system in each coach to facilitate passengers with respect to railway stations enroute
  5. train is equipped with 3-phase IGBT-based converter and inverter designed and developed by BHEL
  6. train also features a technologically advanced regenerative braking system.

IR is progressively replacing all locomotive-hauled slow and fast passenger and intercity trains with EMUs. The upgraded trains are re-branded as MEMUs.

Operation

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The system uses multiple electrical units[3][4] operating on 25 kV AC drawn from overhead lines. The trailer coaches have two toilets for passengers and one for the crew.

The train can run up to 200 km (120 mi) between Eastern Ghat and Western Ghat. The rakes have a maximum permitted speed of 105 km/h (65 mph) on broad-gauge tracks. The motorcoaches use DC traction motors. These rakes use asynchronous traction motors and have a maximum designed speed of 110 km/h. These use a stainless steel body. Two of them operate on South Central Railways.

ICF launched new MEMUs capable to operate at 110–130 km/h. The construction cost is ₹ 26 crore per unit and can carry 2,618 passengers. This train has a three phase traction motor and operates on 25 kV current which saves 35% energy. It offers GPS-based passenger information systems and announcement in coaches. It has double leaf sliding doors, gangways, CCTV cameras and aluminium luggage racks. The driver's cabin has AC and the coach has an emergency communication facility. It is designed to operate between cities 200–300 km (120–190 mi) away in Uttar Pradesh. The train may start in February 2019.[5]

Manufacturing

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MEMU
MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bangalore

MEMUs are manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. Rakes are maintained in the Titlagarh coach maintenance shops.[citation needed] Marathwada Rail Coach Factory, Latur is currently trying to ramp up production capacity of 250 MEMU coaches per annum.

Maintenance

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MEMU Car Shed and Office in Kollam Junction railway station premises

MEMU Car Sheds are functioning for the maintenance of MEMU rakes in most of the states where the services are operated. MEMU Car Sheds are operational in Avadi, Bangalore, Kollam,[6] Palakkad, Tambaram, Trichy and Vijayawada under Southern Railway.

Rolling stock

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MEMU usually uses 8,12 and 16 car coaches, but there are 14,18 and 20 coach configurations too. The trailer coaches have two toilets for passengers and one for the crew. This train can go either fast or slow.

Services

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Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMU)

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Service Locale Distance Average speed Travel time Stops Frequency Ref
Ambala–Amb Andaura Haryana and Himachal Pradesh 213 km (132 mi) 41 km/h (25 mph) 06h 10m 22 Twice a day [7]
Amritsar–Attari Punjab 24 km (15 mi) 32 km/h (20 mph) 00h 45m 13 Daily [8]
Ara–Sasaram Bihar 97 km (60 mi) 28 km/h (17 mph) 03h 30m 26 Daily [9]
Banihal–Baramula DEMU Jammu and Kashmir 135 km (84 mi) 58 km/h (36 mph) 02h 35m 12 Daily [10]
Indore–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar Madhya Pradesh 21 km (13 mi) 23 km/h (14 mph) 0h 55m 12 Daily [11]
Indore–Ratlam Madhya Pradesh 115 km (71 mi) 44 km/h (27 mph) 02h 40m 13 Daily [12]
Jalandhar City–Amritsar Punjab 79 km (49 mi) 39 km/h (24 mph) 01h 50m 13 Daily [13]
Mahesana–Abu Road DEMU Gujarat and Rajasthan 117 km (73 mi) 37 km/h (23 mph) 00h 55m 15 Daily [14]
Nizamabad–Kacheguda Telangana 166 km (103 mi) 40 km/h (25 mph) 04h 10m 12 Thrice a day [15]
Raichur–Gadwal–Kacheguda Karnataka and Telangana 60 km (37 mi) 60 km/h (37 mph) 01h 00m 8 Daily [16]
Rajgir–Bakhtiyarpur Bihar 54 km (34 mi) 22 km/h (14 mph) 02h 25m 5 Daily [17]
Ratlam–Laxmibai Nagar Madhya Pradesh 115 km (71 mi) 45 km/h (28 mph) 02h 45m 14 Daily [18]
Rohtak–Rewari Haryana 81 km (50 mi) 40 km/h (25 mph) 02h 00m 13 Daily [19]
Sabarmati–Mahesana Gujarat 63 km (39 mi) 47 km/h (29 mph) 01h 20m 7 Daily [20]
Sabarmati–Patan Gujarat 103 km (64 mi) 40 km/h (25 mph) 02h 35m 7 Daily [21]
Vasai Road–Diva Maharashtra 40 km (25 mi) 46 km/h (29 mph) 00h 52m 5 Daily [22]

Electric Multiple Units (EMU)

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Service Locale Distance Average speed Travel time Stops Frequency Ref
Chennai–Tirupati Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu 147 km (91 mi) 37 km/h (23 mph) 04h 00m 25 Daily [23]
Dahod–Ratlam Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh 114 km (71 mi) 47 km/h (29 mph) 03h 05m 12 Daily [24]
Falaknuma–Bhuvanagiri Telangana 46 km (29 mi) 24 km/h (15 mph) 01h 50m 15 Daily [25]
Panvel–Dahanu Road MEMU Maharashtra 136 km (85 mi) 41 km/h (25 mph) 03h 25m 19 Daily [26]
Panvel–Vasai Road Maharashtra 63 km (39 mi) 46 km/h (29 mph) 01h 35m 10 Daily [27]
Rajgir–Danapur Bihar 109 km (68 mi) 24 km/h (15 mph) 04h 35m 21 Daily [28]
Sealdah–Berhampore Court West Bengal 186 km (116 mi) 44 km/h (27 mph) 04h 15m 23 Daily [29]
Ujjain–Nagda Madhya Pradesh 56 km (35 mi) 39 km/h (24 mph) 01h 25m 6 Daily [30]
Virar–Bharuch Gujarat and maharashtra 267 km (166 mi) 37 km/h (23 mph) 06h 45m 39 Daily [31]
Whitefield–KSR Bengaluru City Karnataka 23 km (14 mi) 35 km/h (22 mph) 00h 40m 12 Daily [32]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ TTI. "MEMU Trains in India". Total Train Info. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  2. ^ "3-phase MEMU to replace conventional DC rakes soon". The Hindu. 3 October 2019.
  3. ^ "SCR starts 2 Memu trains". The Times of India. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  4. ^ Express News Service (December 9, 2011). "Corporation adamant on saving MEMU dream". CNN-IBM. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  5. ^ New Train 18-like MEMU for North India! Indian Railways rolls out 130 kmph train for short-distance travel
  6. ^ "MEMU to be extended to Malabar; Passenger trains to be replaced with MEMU". english.mathrubhumi.com. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  7. ^ "10 trains including Shatabdi to remain off-tracks on oct 5". Dailypost. 1 September 2019.
  8. ^ Press Trust of India (12 October 2015). "Punjab Chief Minister to Hold Talks With Protesting Farmers". NDTV.
  9. ^ "आरा-सासाराम के लिए दो नई पैसेंजर ट्रेन आज से -". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  10. ^ Ministry of Railways (4 September 2015). "Shri Suresh Prabhu Flags Off Andaman Express Through Remote Control From Jammu Tawi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra". Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Press release).
  11. ^ "WR declare closure of Fatehabad-Indore & Fatehabad-Ujjain MG Section for GC works". RailNews. 24 February 2014.
  12. ^ "All DEMU train will go to Indore from June 14". Freepress Journal. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Didn't see, feel anything amiss during mishap near Amritsar, say passengers on same train". Indian Express. 25 October 2018.
  14. ^ Shah, Jay. "79437/Mahesana - Abu Road DEMU - Mahesana to Abu Road WR/Western Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  15. ^ "NZB/Nizamabad to KCG/Hyderabad Kacheguda: 23 Trains". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  16. ^ "Raichur-Kacheguda railway line inaugurated by minister". The Times of India. 2013-10-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  17. ^ "73253/Rajgir–Bakhtiyarpur DEMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  18. ^ F P News Service (2 October 2015). "Indore Ratlam DEMU to start today". The Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016.
  19. ^ "India's first CNG train for the Rewari-Rohtak section - India's first CNG train". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  20. ^ "Demand For Train And Rail Facilities In Jalore-Sirohi Is Impractical – जालोर-सिरोही में रेलगाड़ी और रेल सुविधाओं की मांग 'अव्यावहारिक' | Patrika News". patrika.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  21. ^ Himansh. "09369/Sabarmati - Patan DEMU Special - Sabarmati BG to Patan WR/Western Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  22. ^ "Several new trains proposed in Railway Budget". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  23. ^ "Rail Budget 2013: Andhra Pradesh to get 8 express trains, 4 new lines". The Times of India. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
  24. ^ "मेमू का बे्रक फेल, रेड सिग्नल क्रॉस -". Nai Dunia (in Hindi). 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  25. ^ "Meagre allocation for projects in Telangana". The New Indian Express. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  26. ^ "Vasai-Panvel track nod by September end | mumbai news". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  27. ^ "Several new trains proposed in Railway Budget". The Times of India. 2011-02-25. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  28. ^ Anand, Siddharth. "63339/Rajgir - Danapur MEMU - Rajgir to Danapur ECR/East Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  29. ^ PATRANABIS, SREERUP. "63105/Sealdah - Lalgola MEMU - Sealdah to Berhampore Court ER/Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  30. ^ Jayashree. "69185/Nagda - Ujjain MEMU - Nagda to Ujjain WR/Western Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  31. ^ "19102/Bharuch–Virar MEMU". India Rail Info.
  32. ^ M, Yash. "66541/Whitefield - KSR Bengaluru MEMU - Whitefield to Bangalore SWR/South Western Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
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