Inspection of Electric Train Heads in Korea, TRC Plans to Ensure Standards
The Tanzania Railway Corporation TRC continues to test the systems of the modern SGR Railway transportation equipment manufactured by the Hyundai Rotem Company in the city of Changwon, in South Korea, July, 2023.
The Hyundai Rotem Company was awarded the contract to manufacture 17 electric locomotives and 10 sets of Modern EMU trains known as “Pointed Trains”.
A team of experts from TRC made up of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, technicians and train drivers has camped at the Hyundai Rotem factory for the inspection of various systems including electricity, brake system and measurements in the production of electric locomotives.
The leader of the team of experts who is also the project manager for the purchase of operating equipment manufactured by the Hyundai Rotem Company, Engineer Kelvin Kimario has explained that the factory inspection exercise is important to satisfy himself that the equipment manufactured has followed the terms of the contract and railway standards built.
“without doing a factory inspection, the device can be shipped and upon arrival in the country you find out that it does not perform the intended function, or its dimensions are not compatible with the infrastructure such as the bridges and tunnels we built, and as a result cause the government a loss or endanger the safety of the infrastructure and users” said Engineer Kimario .
The manufacturers of electric locomotives, Hyundai Rotem, state that the 17 electric locomotives weighing 88 tons each have been manufactured in consideration of the Tanzanian environment, and the company has also stated that it prioritizes training for drivers and technicians from TRC to build their capacity in technology the new one is expected to revolutionize transportation by rail in Tanzania.
“We have taken the average amount of rain in Dar es Salaam which is 254 millimeters…but here we have multiplied it four times and we allow this water for 15 minutes and after that we wait for 10 minutes before inspecting one area to another this is to ensure that there is no possibility of water affecting the electrical system and its equipment inside the head” added the Project Manager for the production of such equipment Mr. Sangho Lee during the test of the ability of such heads not to pass water during rain.
For their part, the technicians and train drivers who participated in the tests that will continue throughout the week in South Korea, have explained that participating in this important exercise will help them get to know the equipment well and use that knowledge when the equipment starts working in the country.
The inspection exercise of electric locomotives is part of the implementation of the Government’s promise of the sixth phase of the United Republic of Tanzania led by President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, on ensuring the availability of equipment for the operation of the SGR Modern Railway, as well as developing the construction of a modern railway in the country.
