Premium trains like Rajdhani, August Kranti, Shatabdi and Duronto between Mumbai and other cities may become more energy efficient and noiseless in the time to come. The railway board is actively considering a technology that will allow the national transporter to do away with diesel generator coaches – each of these trains has two such cars.

What is the technology?

It's called Head On Generation (HOG) technology. It can transfer power from the overhead wires to the air-conditioning system of the locomotive. Currently, the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express has HOG installed on it. As a result, the train doesn't have the diesel generator coaches and is almost noise-free.

How will HOG benefit city and rlys?

Sources said the railway board is considering adopting HOG for Rajdhani, August Kranti, Shatabdi and Duronto from Mumbai. Once in place, the technology will help railways use two extra cars on each train for ferrying passengers – about 100 per train – and save money on diesel. With smoke-spewing DG sets gone, the trains will be pollution free too.

What do rly officials say?

A railway board official, who didn't wish to be named, said, "The railway board is always in the process of adopting latest technology for cost effect and energy saving. It monitors all the plus-minus details before implementing any new technology. Thorough research and development is a key to its success."

He said the HOG trial on New Delhi-Kalka route is going on since 2011 and has proved to be very energy efficient. "Now, it is the right time to implement HOG in different railway zones. The board is in the final stage of implementation, but it will be done in a phased manner."

Sharat Chandrayan, public relations officer of Western Railway, said, "We are yet to receive official communication from railway board on this subject."