Hexatron93 at 21:39, 2 June 2023

2023-06-02T21:39:38Z

New page

{{Other uses|Electric multiple unit}}
{{Infobox public transit
| box_width =
| name = MEMU
| image = BEML SSEMU Photo 2.jpg
| alt =
| imagesize = 250px
| caption = [[BEML]] made EMU
| native_name = 
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| area served = [[India]]
| transit_type = [[Regional rail]]/[[Commuter rail]]
| daily_ridership =
| weekly_ridership =
| annual_ridership =
| began_operation = 1995
| ended_operation =
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| marks = IR
| host =
| character =
| vehicles =
| train_length = 12 coaches
| headway =
| system_length = 
| notrack = 2+
| track_gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| minimum_radius_of_curvature = 
| el = [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] [[Overhead line]]
| average_speed = 
| top_speed = {{convert|130|km/h|abbr=on}}
| chief_executive =
| map =
| website =
| locale =
| stations =
| end =
| start =
| line_number =
| map_state =
}}

On [[Indian Railways]], the MEMUs are [[electric multiple unit]] (EMU) trains that serve short and medium-distance routes in [[India]], as compared to normal EMU trains that connect urban and suburban areas. The acronym stands for "Mainline Electric Multiple Unit".<ref>{{Cite web|last=TTI|title=MEMU Trains in India|url=http://www.totaltraininfo.com/memu.php|access-date=2021-02-08|website=www.totaltraininfo.com|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
In the 1990s [[Indian Railways]]' built MEMUs that had {{convert|10|ft|8|in|mm|abbr=on}} wide coaches. The service started on Asansol – Adra section on 15 July 1995 and on Kharagpur – Tata section on 22 July 1995. A MEMU started on 17 October 1995 on Raipur–Durg–Bhatapara–Raipur–Bilaspur route. The first 20 coach MEMU ran between Surat to Virar in 2017. In 2018, [[Integral Coach Factory]] (ICF) launched new MEMU capable to operate at {{convert|110|-|130|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

IR is progressively replacing all locomotive-hauled slow and fast passenger and intercity trains with EMUs. The upgraded trains are re-branded as MEMUs.

== Operation ==
[[File:BRC MEMU.jpg|thumb|200px|Vadodara Car Shed MEMU at Diva Jn.]]
[[File:ICF MEMU.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A 3-phaser MEMU train at Cherthala]]
[[File:ICF MEMU 2.jpg|thumb|200px|ICF made Marikuppam - Bengaluru MEMU at Tyakal]]
The system uses multiple [[Electric motor|electrical]] units<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-20/hyderabad/29794082_1_passenger-train-memu-train-services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601035824/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-20/hyderabad/29794082_1_passenger-train-memu-train-services|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 1, 2013|title=SCR starts 2 Memu trains|date=July 20, 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=December 10, 2011}}</ref><ref name="CNN-IBM2">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/corporation-adamant-on-saving-memu-dream/210268-60-122.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318051612/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/corporation-adamant-on-saving-memu-dream/210268-60-122.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2013|title=Corporation adamant on saving MEMU dream|author=Express News Service|date=December 9, 2011|work=CNN-IBM|access-date=December 10, 2011}}</ref> operating on [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] drawn from [[overhead line]]s. The trailer coaches have two toilets for passengers and one for the crew.

The train can run up to {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} between Eastern Ghat and Western Ghat. The rakes have a maximum permitted speed of {{convert|105|km/h|abbr=on}} on broad gauge tracks. The motorcoaches use DC traction motors. In 2017, ICF flagged off an LHB hybrid AC-AC MEMU rake based on the 1600 HP Medha DEMU architecture. These rakes use asynchronous traction motors and have a maximum designed speed of 110 km/h. These use a [[stainless steel]] body. Two of them operate on [[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railways]].

ICF launched new MEMUs capable to operate at 110–130 km/hr. The construction cost is {{INR}} 26 crore per unit and can carry 2,618 passengers. This train has a three phase traction motor and operates on 25 Kv current which saves 35% energy. It offers [[Global Positioning System|GPS]]-based passenger information systems and announcement in coaches. It has double leaf sliding doors, gangways, [[Closed-circuit television camera|CCTV cameras]] and aluminium luggage racks. The driver's cabin has AC and the coach has an emergency communication facility. It is designed to operate between cities {{convert|200|-|300|km|abbr=on}} away in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The train may start in February 2019.<ref>[https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/new-train-18-like-memu-for-north-india-indian-railways-rolls-out-130-kmph-train-for-short-distance-travel/1419415/ New Train 18-like MEMU for North India! Indian Railways rolls out 130 kmph train for short-distance travel]</ref>

== Manufacturing ==
[[File:Zn-fl train.jpg|thumb|Hyderabad Suburban train, MEMU]]
[[File:MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bangalore.jpg|thumb|CR MEMU Rakes built by BEML, [[Bangalore]]]]
[[File:MEMU Rakes built by BEML, Bengaluru.jpg|thumb|CR MEMU Rakes parked alongside [[Suranjan Das Road]]]]

MEMUs are manufactured at [[Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala]], and [[Integral Coach Factory]], Chennai. Rakes are maintained in the [[Titlagarh]] coach maintenance shops.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

==Comparison to locomotive-hauled trains==
{{further|Multiple_unit#Comparison_to_locomotive-hauled_trains}}

==See also==
* [[High-speed rail in India]]
* [[Express trains in India]]
* [[Slow and fast passenger trains in India]]
* [[Urban rail transit in India#Suburban Rail|Suburban trains]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|MEMU}}
* {{cite news| url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/railway-introduces-passengerfriendly-techno/495382/| title=Railway introduces passenger-friendly technology in MEMU trains| work=Indian Express| author=Express News Service| date=July 29, 2009}}
* [https://searchmytrain.com/list-of/memu-trains/ List of all MEMU trains operated by Indian Railways]
* [http://indiarailinfo.com/trains/memu-demu/memudemu MEMU/DEMU Electric/Diesel Multiple Unit Shuttle Trains - Railway Enquiry]
* [http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Suburban/MEMU/ Indian Railways Fan Club Photo Gallery: MEMU]

{{Indian Railways}}

[[Category:Electric multiple units of India| ]]

MEMU - Revision history

Hexatron93 at 21:39, 2 June 2023