Move to revamp 14 DEMU trains

[bluesky]

Guys, are not you happy to know that the local engineers and technicians have successfully repaired the DEMU trains? I am extremely happy to open this thread.

It is not a small feat for a country that is averse to anything mechanical.

Move to revamp 14 DEMU trains

A move has been made to overhaul 14 DEMU trains that have remained inoperative for years as one set has been repaired using local expertise at Tk 5.0 million only. Official sources said the Chinese supplier company sought Tk 50 million, which is almost the cost of a new DEMU (Diesel Electric Multi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Move to revamp 14 DEMU trains
MUNIMA SULTANA | Published: October 21, 2022 20:44:08 | Updated: October 21, 2022 23:23:00

---

A move has been made to overhaul 14 DEMU trains that have remained inoperative for years as one set has been repaired using local expertise at Tk 5.0 million only.

Official sources said the Chinese supplier company sought Tk 50 million, which is almost the cost of a new DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) set, for the work.

But local engineers did the same and saved Tk 45 million. The BR imported 20 sets of trains at Tk 6.5 billion from Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company of China in 2013, which were supposed to be in service for 35 years.

Sources said the Bangladesh Railway (BR) on Thursday sat in a meeting in this connection after a successful trial run of the first overhauled DEMU set.

The meeting decided to form a committee to assess the conditions of all the inoperative ones.

It has planned to assess the condition of the train sets first as they went inoperative at different times. They might have multiple problems, according to a meeting attendee.

After the assessment, the official said, the BR might take short-, medium- and long-term plans to overhaul this new kind of Chinese-made train.

Moazzem Hossain, a BUET professor in civil engineering, appreciated the move and said this proves the need for attaching importance to research and development to reduce operating and maintenance costs by the loss-making state agency.

He also said the BR team's success in the overhauling shows the success of the applied knowledge that engineers gather after their academic knowledge.

The BR was able to operate one set after its engineers and technicians, led by a BUET engineer, overhauled it by changing the controlling system with a new module prepared by local materials.
The repaired train set is now being operated in Lalmonirhat after railways minister Nurul Islam Sujon inaugurated it on October 10.
Although the BR had been in a dilemma with its 20 imported sets in trouble for the unavailability of software and parts, it could make six sets operative by changing modules of the motor car.

These trains are now running in Dhaka, Chattogram and Lalmonirhat. The rest 14 sets remain in different workshops of the state-backed train operator.

But sources said almost all sets turned inoperative gradually for not setting up a dedicated workshop, adequate trained manpower, and experts to repair minor faults and its use on long routes.

As DEMU trains have engines on both sides of the train, officials said, it is not necessary to change locomotives. Being a light vehicle, its fuel saving is better than traditional trains, and the breaking system and speed system are easy to control.

But the trains are used for short distances with a good number of passengers.

smunima@yahoo.com

 

[epebble]

The BR imported 20 sets of trains at Tk 6.5 billion from Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company of China in 2013, which were supposed to be in service for 35 years.

No Warranty? BD should have obtained knowhow for repair at the time of purchase. China always demands technology transfer from foreign companies. e.g. High Speed Rail.

 

[Bilal9]

Guys, are not you happy to know that the local engineers and technicians have successfully repaired the DEMU trains? I am extremely happy to open this thread.

It is not a small feat for a country that is averse to anything mechanical.

Move to revamp 14 DEMU trains

A move has been made to overhaul 14 DEMU trains that have remained inoperative for years as one set has been repaired using local expertise at Tk 5.0 million only. Official sources said the Chinese supplier company sought Tk 50 million, which is almost the cost of a new DEMU (Diesel Electric Multi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Move to revamp 14 DEMU trains
MUNIMA SULTANA | Published: October 21, 2022 20:44:08 | Updated: October 21, 2022 23:23:00

---

A move has been made to overhaul 14 DEMU trains that have remained inoperative for years as one set has been repaired using local expertise at Tk 5.0 million only.

Official sources said the Chinese supplier company sought Tk 50 million, which is almost the cost of a new DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) set, for the work.

But local engineers did the same and saved Tk 45 million. The BR imported 20 sets of trains at Tk 6.5 billion from Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company of China in 2013, which were supposed to be in service for 35 years.

Sources said the Bangladesh Railway (BR) on Thursday sat in a meeting in this connection after a successful trial run of the first overhauled DEMU set.

The meeting decided to form a committee to assess the conditions of all the inoperative ones.

It has planned to assess the condition of the train sets first as they went inoperative at different times. They might have multiple problems, according to a meeting attendee.

After the assessment, the official said, the BR might take short-, medium- and long-term plans to overhaul this new kind of Chinese-made train.

Moazzem Hossain, a BUET professor in civil engineering, appreciated the move and said this proves the need for attaching importance to research and development to reduce operating and maintenance costs by the loss-making state agency.

He also said the BR team's success in the overhauling shows the success of the applied knowledge that engineers gather after their academic knowledge.

The BR was able to operate one set after its engineers and technicians, led by a BUET engineer, overhauled it by changing the controlling system with a new module prepared by local materials.
The repaired train set is now being operated in Lalmonirhat after railways minister Nurul Islam Sujon inaugurated it on October 10.
Although the BR had been in a dilemma with its 20 imported sets in trouble for the unavailability of software and parts, it could make six sets operative by changing modules of the motor car.

These trains are now running in Dhaka, Chattogram and Lalmonirhat. The rest 14 sets remain in different workshops of the state-backed train operator.

But sources said almost all sets turned inoperative gradually for not setting up a dedicated workshop, adequate trained manpower, and experts to repair minor faults and its use on long routes.

As DEMU trains have engines on both sides of the train, officials said, it is not necessary to change locomotives. Being a light vehicle, its fuel saving is better than traditional trains, and the breaking system and speed system are easy to control.

But the trains are used for short distances with a good number of passengers.

smunima@yahoo.com

I posted a video of this about two months ago when the story broke, the renewed DEMU trains are running in North Bengal on trial basis. Now Bangladesh Railway will supply money to revamp all 14 inoperative push-pull sets of the MG DEMU trains.

Who knows, maybe we can get ToT from mfrs. to make (or at least assemble) same type of BG DEMU trains locally as well.

Japan private Railway lines used these DEMU trains heavily after WWII in remote areas for long/thin routes where electrifying lines was not practical for sparse traffic. For Bangladesh less-than-heavily-used lines, these DEMU's are ideal as an alternative to electrifying lines which carries very big expense.

I'm pretty sure Tangshan works used commonly available DEMU technology (especially the electrical issues faced) which the local engineers now fixed.

The only reason things aren't fixed locally is because of rampant corruption in Bangladesh Railways. I think they should make it a rule to,

a) get warranty, ToT and local training and assembly for local trainsets, especially where new tech like DEMU is concerned.
b) prohibit disbursing money for new purchase backfill while existing stock of railcars can be fixed locally.

I agree with brother @epebble that warranty and ToT are a MUST for new purchases for railways. This disease of corruption at BR has to be checked at any cost.

BRTC bus situation suffers from the same corruption disease.

This is an excellent inspiring story and we should justly reward the people involved with this effort. Meaning reward at a very high level from Govt. Railway leaders. Not only makes for a great propaganda story, it inspires local private sector folks and engineers to substitute parts to keep Railway infra things running locally.

 

[bluesky]

I posted a video of this about two months ago when the story broke, the renewed DEMU trains are running in North Bengal on trial basis. Now Bangladesh Railway will supply money to revamp all 14 push-pull sets of the MG DEMU trains.

Who knows, maybe we can get ToT from mfrs. to make same type of BG DEMU trains too. Japan private Railway lines used these DEMU trains heavily after WWII in remote areas where electrifying lines was not practical. For Bangladesh less than heavily used lines, these DEMU's are ideal as an alternative to not electrifying lines which carries very big expense.

This is an excellent inspiring story and we should justly reward the people involved with this effort. Meaning reward at a very high level from Govt. Railway leaders. Not only makes for a great propaganda story, it inspires local private sector folks and engineers to substitute parts to keep Railway infra things running locally.

Other countries struggle hard to build/ manufacture mechanical things through many trials and errors.

It is already 21s century, but we are unable to manufacture even a prototype. Chinese starting point of industrialization is after the 2nd WW. It is the same with us.

But, we are unable to blacken our two white hands and keep on importing everything. Yet, most guys think that BD a great economic development example. No wonder, other people do not respect a dependent country.

With this attitude in mind BD will never develop.

 

[Sliver]

Other countries struggle hard to build/ manufacture mechanical things through many trials and errors.

It is already 21s century, but we are unable to manufacture even a prototype. Chinese starting point of industrialization is after the 2nd WW. It is the same with us.

But, we are unable to blacken our two white hands and keep on importing everything. Yet, most guys think that BD a great economic development example. No wonder, other people do not respect a dependent country.

With this attitude in mind BD will never develop.

china has a huge base for manufacturing everything
hence cost of R&D and producing these units is pretty low (amortization over thousands of units)
BD will spend a lot more to develop similar equipment.

however, am surprised china would quote such a huge amount - they look to have mastered the razor and blade marketing technique (or the printer and the ink cartridge for technique for the younger folk)

 

[bluesky]

china has a huge base for manufacturing everything
hence cost of R&D and producing these units is pretty low (amortization over thousands of units)
BD will spend a lot more to develop similar equipment.

however, am surprised china would quote such a huge amount - they look to have mastered the razor and blade marketing technique (or the printer and the ink cartridge for technique for the younger folk)

No, you are very wrong. BD does not have to depend upon the bigChinese industrial base all the time to come. With a large population base, BD must build its own industrial base.

The unit price of industrial goods may be higher in BD in the initial stage, but prices go down with more experience of our workers who would learn everyday.

However, industries must be built by the private sector with the backing of the govt.

Anyway, our illiterate politicians and half-literate bureaucrats led by Hasina Bibi talk passionately about the 4IR at a time when BD is unable to produce even 1IR mechanical goods.

DEMU train technology ranking may be just above 1.5IR. BD should build DEMU, locomotives, train coaches, rly lines, signal equipment and many others by itself.

But, Hasina Bibi thinks importing everything with borrowed money is a great feat of development.

She is completely wrong, and BD is not developing at all.

 

[Bilal9]

china has a huge base for manufacturing everything
hence cost of R&D and producing these units is pretty low (amortization over thousands of units)
BD will spend a lot more to develop similar equipment.

however, am surprised china would quote such a huge amount - they look to have mastered the razor and blade marketing technique (or the printer and the ink cartridge for technique for the younger folk)

Someone (either Bangladesh Railway idiots or CRRC Tangshan) is lying or misquoting pricing to fix DEMUs.

I can see why Bangladesh Railway would misquote CRRC Tangshan repair quotes as super high, because these BR idiots are not interested in fixing anything. These suwars would rather go buy anything new overseas and then pocket the percentage proceeds as commission. They have vested interest not to fix anything.

Whatever Indians buy overseas, Bangladesh easily pays three times as much. So - around 66% markup which goes into these corrupt Railway administrator's pockets and the Railway minister too.

If CRRC Tangshan is actually quoting high repair pricing to fix these DEMU's (seemed like a rather easy drop-in electrical fix with a few breakers and logic units), then they can kiss good bye any future prospects of selling railway rolling stock in Bangladesh. Spares and support are the cornerstone of a good reliable vendor. No sale of infra and railway stock is done as a one time sale. There is ongoing support, no matter how small the amount. If a company refuses to support their own products, then that is quite short-sighted as a business strategy. The report said that the repair cost quoted to fix each DEMU was equivalent to purchasing new DEMU's.

This is quite unfortunate and sad. Bangladesh is a growing economy on the way to a middle income country sooner or later, and there is plenty of rolling stock demand in Bangladesh. 90% of the middle and lower middle class will use trains, as they cannot afford airfare for the short hop legs used locally and regionally for air travel. Since rail travel demand is so high, the railway loco and rolling stock fleets will be expanded.

The only reason to buy from CRRC Tangshan was because the price was reasonable. If this kind of unreliable relationship is shown by a vendor, then it is clear they don't want future business. Fortunately, Bangladesh is slowly moving up to being capable of affording Western Vendors, and not just Asian ones. Though for rolling stock, those supplied from Indonesia have proven to be of high quality, popular and economical to maintain.

Recently, Bangladesh bought forty BG locos from the US (Progress Rail GT42AC) and also thirty MG locos from Hyundai ROTEM. These vendors are responsible and the support and spares servicing is quite satisfactory.

Progress Rail USA GT42AC BR 6600 Series

HYUNDAI ROTEM GT38ACL BR 3000 series

 

[Bilal9]