more-in In a first, the Golden Rock Railway Workshop at Tiruchi has manufactured a rake of 40 container wagons fitted with Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID) to ensure effective tracking of the wagons. The long container BLL type wagons in which the RFID tags have been fitted are meant for Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR). In addition, the over 80-year-old workshop has also fitted them with Twin Pipe Air Brake System — also the first of its kind manufactured at the workshop. The RFID tags have been designed by the Centre for Railway Information System and have a life span of 25 years. The RFID-tagged wagons for CONCOR was flagged off at the workshop premises here on Tuesday. Chief Workshop Manager P.N. Jha and Group General Manager, CONCOR, Southern Region, Abu Thakir were present. According to workshop authorities, each of the 40 wagons has been equipped with two RFID tags on both sides of the exterior. The RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. Trackside readers will be installed at stations and key points along the track to read the tag from a distance of about two metres and transmit the wagon identity over a network to a central computer. In this way, each moving wagon can be identified and its movement tracked using RFID devices. RFID tags will make it easier for the railways to know the exact position of the wagons through online system, and the readers will also be provided at different railway yards. This is the first time that a set of new freight wagons rolled out from the workshop have been equipped with RFID tags. Henceforth, all new wagons will have the facility, the authorities added. Vendors supplying the tags will instal them at the workshop at the time of wagon production. Also, the twin pipe air brake system will result in improved application and release of brakes, making it easier for loco pilots to control the train, thus ensuring safer operations. It will also reduce the drag on the train, resulting in better fuel efficiency and reduced shuttling, a release from the workshop said. The first rake of 40 wagons meant for CONCOR is among the orders received for manufacture of 400 long container BLL wagons worth ?132 crore. The Tiruchi workshop has been a pioneer in wagon production — 40,000 wagons of 55 varieties from 1962. It also manufactures stainless steel wagons for the railways. This is the only workshop under Southern Railway engaged in wagon production in addition to carrying out periodic overhaul of diesel locomotives and passenger coaches.

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