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
-
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).
-
Capital outlay 2023-24 – ₹ 6 820 cr (highest among all PUs/ECs).
-
Energy bill saved – 1.26 BU (2022-23) through regenerative braking & HOG.
-
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.
5. 15+ MCQs – Ec Divisions
5. 15+ MCQs – Ec Divisions
- Which was the first Electrical Central Organisation (EC) division of Indian Railways?
A) ECNR, New Delhi
B) ECRS, Kolkata
C) ECSR, Chennai
D) ECWR, Mumbai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ECRS (Electrical Central Organisation, Kolkata) was the pioneer division for managing large-scale electrification projects on Indian Railways.
- The headquarter of ECNR is located at
A) Lucknow
B) Ambala
C) New Delhi
D) Prayagraj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The ECNR (Electrical Central Northern Railway) division is headquartered in New Delhi.
- WAG-12B (12000 HP) locos are homed in which EC division?
A) ECNR
B) ECSC, Bhilai
C) ECOR
D) ECR, Hajipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The high-horsepower WAG-12B locomotives, used for heavy haul, are primarily homed and maintained at the Bhilai facility under ECSC.
- The national standard voltage for electric traction in India is
A) 1500 V DC
B) 11 kV AC
C) 25 kV, 50 Hz, 1-phase AC
D) 33 kV, 50 Hz, 3-phase AC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways has standardized 25 kV, 50 Hz, single-phase AC as the national standard for electric traction.
- Which EC division is primarily responsible for standards & testing of traction equipment?
A) ECRS, Kolkata
B) ECRC, Lucknow (RDSO)
C) ECNR, New Delhi
D) ECSC, Bhilai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ECRC Lucknow, functioning under RDSO, is responsible for setting technical standards and testing all traction-related equipment.
- The periodicity of IOH (Intermediate Over-Haul) for electric locos is
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Electric locomotives undergo Intermediate Over-Haul every 18 months to ensure the reliability of electrical and mechanical components.
- Head-On-Generation (HOG) technology was first introduced on which train?
A) Vande Bharat Express
B) Gatimaan Express
C) Rajdhani Express (2010)
D) Shatabdi Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: HOG technology, which draws power from the OHE to feed the coaches, was first introduced on the Rajdhani Express in 2010.
- The height of OHE contact wire on BG track is normally maintained at
A) 4.80 m
B) 5.20 m
C) 5.60 m
D) 7.50 m
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: For standard Broad Gauge tracks, the normal contact wire height is 5.60 metres above the rail level.
- Which section achieved 104 % regenerative energy braking in 2023?
A) Delhi–Agra
B) Chennai–Gudur (ECSR)
C) Howrah–Asansol
D) Mumbai–Pune
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Chennai–Gudur section under ECSR recorded a milestone in energy efficiency through high levels of regenerative braking.
- Mission 2024-2025 target of Indian Railways is
A) 50 % electrification
B) 75 % electrification
C) 100 % electrification of BG routes
D) Introduction of Maglev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways is currently finalizing its mission to achieve 100% electrification of all Broad Gauge routes by the 2025-2026 period.
- The energy management system certification recently awarded to ECNR & ECOR is
A) ISO 9001:2015
B) ISO 14001:2015
C) ISO 50001:2018
D) ISO 45001:2018
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: ISO 50001:2018 is the international standard for energy management systems awarded to divisions achieving high energy efficiency.
- DFCCIL double-stack corridors have OHE height of
A) 5.60 m
B) 6.50 m
C) 7.57 m
D) 8.20 m
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: To accommodate double-stack containers, the Dedicated Freight Corridor OHE height is maintained at 7.57 metres.
- Which was the first indigenous 25 kV AC electric loco?
A) WAM-1
B) WAP-1
C) WAG-7
D) WAM-4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: WAP-1 was the first passenger locomotive designed and built indigenously for the 25 kV AC system.
- The return feeder conductor used in 2×25 kV system is called
A) Catenary wire
B) Contact wire
C) AT (Auto-Transformer) feeder
D) Earth wire
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: In the 2×25 kV system, the Auto-Transformer (AT) feeder acts as the return conductor to minimize interference and voltage drop.
- POH cycle for 3-phase electric locos has been increased from 6 yrs to
A) 7 years
B) 8 years
C) 9 years (condition-based)
D) 12 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Due to the high reliability of 3-phase technology, the POH (Periodic Over-Haul) cycle has been extended to 9 years based on condition monitoring.
- The SCADA protocol adopted by Indian Railways for TRD remote control is
A) Modbus RTU
B) Profibus
C) IEC 60870-5-104
D) SNMP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways uses the IEC 60870-5-104 protocol for its SCADA systems to manage traction power distribution remotely.
- The first electric traction in India was introduced at
A) Howrah–Hooghly
B) Delhi–Meerut
C) Bombay Harbour line (1.5 kV DC, 1925)
D) Madras Beach–Tambaram
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Electric traction first started in India on February 3, 1925, on the Bombay Harbour line using a 1.5 kV DC system.
- Which EC division looks after the maintenance of WAP-5/WAP-7 locos of Northern Railway?
A) ECNR
B) ECRS
C) ECSR
D) ECWR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: ECNR (Northern Railway) is the primary division responsible for the maintenance and operations of high-speed WAP-5 and WAP-7 locomotives.
- The highest loco utilisation in Indian Railways (588 km/day) is credited to
A) ECOR
B) ECNR zone (FY-23)
C) ECSR
D) ECRS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ECNR recorded the highest average locomotive utilization on the network, reaching 588 km per day per loco.
- “Kavach” is the indigenously developed
A) Train lighting system
B) Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system
C) E-ticketing app
D) Freight tracking software
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Kavach is India’s indigenous ATP system designed to prevent collisions and ensure trains stay within speed limits.
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