To meet the growing demand from Covid-19 pandemic affected patients for oxygen around the country, the Indian Railways had decided to run Oxygen Express. The first Oxygen Express with Liquid Medical Oxygen tankers started its journey for Mumbai from Visakhapatnam yesterday night.
The Railway Ministry said, tankers filled with Liquid Medical Oxygen at Visakhapatnam are being transported through Ro-Ro service of Railways. The Ministry said, Railway is running Oxygen Express in response to its fight against COVID-19.
Another Oxygen Express started its journey from Lucknow to Bokaro via Varanasi to fulfil the requirements of Medical Oxygen in Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry said, for the movement of the train, a green corridor was created between Lucknow to Varanasi. The distance of 270 Kilometre was covered by the train in four hours 20 minutes with an average speed of over 62 kilometre per hour.
Some reassuring sights: almost cinematic: First #OxygenExpress left #VizagSteelPlant (@RINL_VSP) Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd with 100 tonnes of liquid medical #Oxygen in seven tankers carried by goods train for #Mumbai #Maharashtra where it will save lives #Covid @ndtv @ndtvindia pic.twitter.com/0LexxTCYhL
— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) April 23, 2021
The transportation of oxygen through trains is faster over long distances than road transport. Trains can run 24 hours in a day but truck drivers need to take halts etc.
Also read: Railways to create green corridor for fast movement of oxygen
Railways swing into action
It was amid demand for oxygen across the country after Covid-19 surge, that the railways got fully ready to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Cylinders from one place to another. The railways geared up to run Oxygen Express trains through green corridor for fast movement of LMO as availability of oxygen is key in the treatment of certain medical conditions due to Covid infection.
The Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra had approached the Ministry of Railways to explore whether LMO tankers could be moved by the railways and Railways immediately explored the technical feasibility of transportation of LMO. This has to be done through Roll On Roll Off (RO RO) service with road tankers placed on flat wagons.
The Railways after the study had stated: "Due to restrictions of height of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Over Head Equipment (OHE) at certain locations, out of the various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T 1618 with height of 3320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons (DBKM) with height of 1290 mm.”
To ensure that parameters of transportation are tested, trials were conducted at various locations.
On April 16, the Ministry of Railways issued a circular providing all the necessary details and guidance pertaining to commercial booking and freight payment for RO RO movement of LMO in cryogenic tankers.
Also instructions were issued to Zonal Railways to ensure readiness to receive the trailers and load them back. Ramps were at Vizag, Angul and Bhilai and the existing ramp at Kalamboli was strengthened.
Zonal Railways had been informed regarding the demands from State Governments. The Railway Board directed concerned GMs to be fully prepared and proactively assist the State and Central Government agencies in movement of oxygen by rail.
Even during the lockdown last year, Railways transported essential commodities and kept the supply chain intact.
