Going the whole HOG

Abstract

While the trains on Indian Railways (IR) have always used separate power cars to provide hotel power for the air-conditioned railcars or self-generation for stand-alone vehicles, they are now running (from New Delhi to Kalka) their first trains which get their hotel power from the locomotive. This new system, known locally as Head-On Generation (HOG) is expected to reduce IR's annual energy consumption by around 700,00 kWh for every 24-coach train converted, thus having an immense positive impact on the environment in terms of reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions and reducing noise pollution. IR will receive a significant carbon credit, which will help to justify the cost of the conversion.