Stainless Steel Welding in Railways

Abstract

Railways form the lifeline of the transport network in our country. Indian Railways command a large market share of the over-land passenger and freight traffic. To sustain this, rail industry is required to technologically and commercially challenge superior highways and advanced technology of road vehicles and also the competitive airlines. Thick and thin sheet metals are widely used in wagon and rail car body fabrication respectively. Rail coach manufacturing sector is in the new challenging phase due to acquirement and adoption of German and Korean technologies and arrival of multinational companies viz M/S Bombardier & M/S Alstom. Thin sheet metal fabrication demands aerodynamic profiles larges size bodies with high level of aesthetic and dent free surface. Thick sheet metal fabrication demands larges size bodies with high level of structural rigidity and dimensional stability .The outer skin of the rail coach body is generally made through thin sheet metal parts and stiffened with moldings, pressings and stamped sections. In the recent past rail car manufactures has been switching over from HSLA steel to stainless steel to acquire the benefit of the later: primarily corrosion resistance Capability and durability and ease of maintenance. The manufacturing practices, challenges addressed during fabrication are brought out.