Advertisment

Leveraging ICT for safe train journey

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As the Centre, amidst recent safety concerns, is mulling mega rail modernization for the 64,000-km route across country, the Indian Railways is poised to join an elite club of modern rail systems.

Advertisment

Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal said that since Indian Railways is expected to carry 2 billion people by 2016, there is a need to leverage advanced technology to help improve efficiency.

The Indian Railways is implementing traffic management and passenger information system together with multiple industry vendors. The implementation, the railways said, is to provide technology backup to loco pilots and drivers.

Speaking at the International Convention on Modern Train Control for Capacity and Safety Enhancement, organized by IRSTE and IRSE, in New Delhi, a senior railways official said they have undertaken pilot projects for train protection warning system (TPWS) in north and south zones.

Advertisment

RDSO director (Signal) Akhilesh Yadav said that they were looking for future-proof technology upgrade with full signaling capabilities through multi-vendor approach. The implementation, he said, will be in three phases, which will culminate in 2020.

TPWS, Yadav said, is a data-driven system, therefore is critical in nature. As maintenance regime is prerequisite, with new technology there is a need to train staff. The department is looking at incremental upgradation of lines with TPWS, in accordance with budget availability.

The Indian Railways is also exploring a roadmap to deploy GSM-R, a radio communication system, that facilitates speech transmission between trackside and onboard elements.

Advertisment

Railway Board member (electrical) Kulbhushan said that they are deploying European Railways Transport Management System (ERTMS) that would help trains ply smoothly even in dense fog.

The government, however, is implementing level 1 (miniature version) of the ERTMS solution. This version, Kulbhushan said, can facilitate traffic management for trains running at up to 300 km per hour.

“Initially starting with version 1, we can upgrade later, and deploy GSM-R," Kulbhushan added. With this communication system, the Indian Railways aims to purge trackside equipment and hardware.

Italy has recently implemented a similar system with modern signaling platform together with four private firms that include GE Transportation.



tech-news