On June 6, the No. SC28040 20,000-tonne heavy-haul train officially departed, marking the independent operation of the heavy-haul train from Wochang Station to Shenchi South Station. Under the new mode featuring self-allocated locomotive and self-established operation team, Xinshuo Railway optimizes the flexible allocation of crew team and shortens the train reformation time within the station to ensure a seamless train operation when the crew team stops for handover, effectively improving the efficiency of integrated transportation.

Featuring a semi-locomotive arm routing, the master control locomotive is a 12-axle electric locomotive, supported by a slave control locomotive: an 8-axle electric locomotive, forming a train consisting of two groups of 108 C80 freight cars and controllable train tails, with a total capacity of 21.6 thousand tonnes of coal.

To ensure efficient operation, the Company installed wireless double-headed devices, stable train control systems, wireless double-headed ESIM cards, and LTE handheld radios on the 20,000-tonne traction locomotives. The Company also collaborated with Shuohuang Railway to carry out a joint appraisal of the locomotives, modify the differences in 28 locomotive configuration standards identified, and eliminate the 24 LKJ discrepancies identified in two steps.

In addition, the Company strengthened the railway line foundation, installed another 17 gauge rods in the 600m radius curve of the upward line of the Zhunchi line, and completed the improvement of the seamless line between Wochang Station and Shenchi Station, which further strengthened the railway line foundation and increased the structural stability of the line. The Company set up parking marks for 20,000-tonne trains, and relocated the Wochang Station upward entry-exit-station neutral section, to ensure that the 20,000-tonne train’s marshalling, picking-up & dropping operations are quick and efficient, improving the 20,000-tonne train operating speed.

Furthermore, the Company established a special work group to track the long-routing operation, monitor the quality status of locomotives to constantly optimize train manipulation. The Company has formulated five locomotive operation standards covering the depot and operation, revised and refined six maintenance processes, and formed an operation specification for the entire process. The locomotive crews who are on duty for 20,000-tonne trains are trained in the operating rules of 20,000-tonne trains, emergency fault handling, abnormal operation, and differentiation of locomotives, and the relevant personnel are organized to learn by observing the railway, to ensure the safe and high-quality operation of long-routing trains.