Ec Divisions – Electrical (Traction) & Central Organisation for RS/EMU/Metro Services
What is an “EC Division” ?
- EC = Electrical (Traction) Central Organisation
- It is a non-geographical, cadre-controlling unit under Electrical (TRD) Directorate of Railway Board.
- Created to pool & centrally monitor high-value, technically-specialised electrical assets that serve more than one Railway Zone.
- Functions exactly like a Production Unit (PUs) but its “products” are Rolling-Stock maintenance & infrastructure upgradation.
- First EC division – ECRS, Kolkata (1962) for EMU/MEMU rakes of ER & SER.
- Latest EC division – ECRSC, Bhilai (2018) for WAG-12B & WAG-9HD locos.
1. Technical Information
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Voltage system | 25 kV, 50 Hz, single-phase ac (since 1957) |
| Catenary (OHE) height | 5.60 m ± 0.05 m (BG), 4.27 m (MG heritage) |
| Traction power frequency | 50 Hz ± 2 % |
| Power block protocol | 15 kV “neutral section” every 40–60 km |
| Return current path | Rails + 150 mm² Cu earth wire + AT return feeder |
| Remote control | SCADA (IEC 60870-5-104) via OFC backbone |
| Maintenance periodicity | IOH 18 months / POH 6 yrs (loco), 9 yrs (EMU) |
EC Divisions handle three verticals:
- Rolling Stock (RS) – Loco, EMU, MEMU, Metro cars.
- Traction Distribution (TRD) – OHE, TSS, SCADA, switching stations.
- Traction Rolling Stock Depot (TRD) – Pit-lines, lifting jacks, wheel lathes.
2. Important Facts & Figures
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Total 8 EC divisions (as on 31 Mar 2024)
Code Full Name HQ Year Core activity ECRS Electrical Central Organisation (Rolling Stock) Kolkata 1962 1st EMU sheds ECRC Electrical Central Organisation (RDSO) Lucknow 1966 Standards & testing ECOR East Coast EC Vishakhapatnam 1975 WAG-5/WAG-7 loco ECSW South-Western EC Hubballi 1980 WDG-4/WDP-4B ECNR Northern EC New Delhi 1985 WAP-5/WAP-7 ECSR Southern EC Chennai 1990 WAP-4/WAG-9 ECCR Central EC Nagpur 2000 WAG-9/WAP-7 ECSC South-Central EC Bhilai 2018 WAG-12B (12 000 HP) -
Manpower – ≈ 45 000 regular staff (65 % Technical Supervisors, 20 % Artisan, 15 % Ministerial).
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Capital outlay 2023-24 – ₹ 6 820 cr (highest among all PUs/ECs).
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Energy bill saved – 1.26 BU (2022-23) through regenerative braking & HOG.
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Record loco utilisation – 588 km/loco/day (ECNR zone, FY-23).
3. Historical Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1925 | First 1.5 kV DC traction – Harbour line, Bombay |
| 1957 | 25 kV AC adopted as National Standard |
| 1962 | ECRS formed for 9-car EMU rakes |
| 1966 | RDSO ECRC cell started; first silicon rectifier |
| 1980 | First solid-state chopper on 1.5 kV DC EMU (Bombay) |
| 1987 | WAP-1 (first indigenous 25 kV AC loco) rolled out CLW |
| 1995 | 3-phase drive WAG-9 prototype tested by ECRC |
| 2000 | First 140 km/h WAP-5 run Delhi-Agra |
| 2010 | Head-On-Generation (HOG) introduced Rajdhani |
| 2018 | WAG-12B (12 000 HP) imported technology by ECSC |
| 2021 | 100 % electrification target announced – 65 000 RKM |
| 2023 | First indigenous IGBT-based 9000 HP WAG-9H flagged off |
4. Current Status & Recent Updates (2024)
- Mission 2024 – 100 % electrification of BG routes (achieved 85 % by Jan 2024).
- WAG-12B – 120 locos already homed at ECSC/Bhilai; next 80 under Make-in-India clause.
- Energy-neutral Chennai–Gudur section (ECSR) – 104 % regeneration achieved (2023).
- Kavach (ATP) – EC divisions driving retro-fit; 1500 km covered till Mar 2024.
- OHE height raised to 7.57 m on DFCCIL corridors for double-stack container traffic.
- New TRD policy 2023 – POH cycle increased from 6 to 9 yrs for 3-phase locos (condition-based).
- Green certification – ECNR & ECOR awarded ISO 50001:2018 (Energy Management).
- Railway Budget 2024 – ₹ 6500 cr allocated for TRD & HOG infrastructure.
BETA
