Performance
With a maximum speed rating of 180 km/h (IR restricts it to 130 km/hr), the WAP-7 has the highest acceleration figures while hauling mail/express trains. The WAP-7 can also haul loads of 24-26 passenger coaches (1430-1550t) at 110+ km/h per hour. It is also known to haul 16 heavyweight Air Conditioned coaches (1120t) in 1:40 inclines single-handedly. At a trial conducted by Indian Railways, it clocked a speed of 177 km/h. It is the most successful passenger locomotive in the Indian Railways portfolio after the WAP-4. It is used to haul premium trains like the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express apart from other regular mail/express trains. It also regularly hauls other trains like the Nizamuddin-Thiruvanantapuram, Nizamuddin-Chennai, Nizamuddin-Bangalore, New Delhi-Sealdah and the New Delhi - Mumbai Rajdhani Expresses and Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Duronto Express.
Currently a 7000 hp version with IGBT traction is under development by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.
The most unique feature of this locomotive is that it eliminates the need to have separate DG sets for air-conditioning in long distance trains hence providing huge savings on maintenance and running costs. This technology is called HOG or "Head On Generation" where the loco transfers electric power from its pantograph to the coaches.
A 24-coach (1500t) passenger rake can be accelerated to 110 km/h in 240 seconds (over 4.7 km) by a WAP-7; to 120 km/h in 304 sec. (6.7 km); and to 130 km/h in 394 sec. (9.9 km). Around 100 of these locomotives have been put to service as of early 2012.
The locomotive has started running to/from the Mumbai area of Western Railway from February 2012 and is expected to be used in the Mumbai area of Central Railway by January 2013. 120 wap-7's have been put to service as of june 2012.
Read more about this topic: Indian Locomotive Class WAP-7
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