Indian Railways: Indian Railways is constantly enhancing its signaling system to align with the latest advancements. The goal is to ensure train movement is more dependable and to boost passenger safety. Outdated mechanical signals are being swapped out for modern electronic systems, which make railway operations safer and more efficient. By December 31, modern electronic interlocking systems have been set up at 6,660 railway stations nationwide, replacing the old mechanical signaling systems. These new systems feature centralized control points and updated signals, enhancing the safety and reliability of train operations.
As stated in the press release, level crossing gates are also undergoing modernization to improve railway safety. By December 31, 10,097 level crossing (LC) gates have been linked to the interlocking system to minimize the chances of collisions between trains and road traffic. Moreover, track circuiting is being introduced at stations. This system employs an electrically-based method to verify if a train is present on the track. This feature has been implemented at 6,665 stations as of December 31, further bolstering the safety of rail passengers.
Automatically clearing blocked sections
The railways have installed axle counters to automatically clear blocked sections. This includes Block Proving Axle Counters (BPAC), which ensure that a train has completely entered the station or block section. This process removes the necessity for manual checks by staff before allowing the next train to proceed, thereby reducing the risk of human error. As of December 31, these systems have been installed in 6,142 block sections.
Increased capacity through automatic block signaling
Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) is being utilized to enhance line capacity, enabling more trains to run safely on the current tracks. By December 31, this system had been put into action over 6,625 route kilometers. The railway is adding additional safety features to improve the reliability of its signaling system. Dual detection systems are being installed, ensuring that if one system fails, the other can continue to function. In addition, backup systems are being developed for power supply and signal transmission.
Modern barriers at level crossing gates
To enhance the safety and reliability of train operations, power-operated lifting barriers are being set up at interlocked level crossing gates. These barriers come with sliding booms, which make the process of opening and closing the gates much smoother.
Maintenance planning during rolling block
Maintenance of signaling assets is performed during rolling blocks. This approach was introduced through a gazette notification on November 30, 2024, in accordance with the Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules. With this system, maintenance, repair, and replacement tasks are scheduled 52 weeks ahead and executed in phases.
The results of these initiatives are quite evident. There has been about a 58% drop in signaling-related failures over the last 11 years. Additionally, the number of train accidents has also seen a notable decrease, thanks to the railway’s ongoing safety efforts, as mentioned in the press release.
When a train accident or any unfortunate event occurs, the Railways promptly offers ex-gratia assistance to the families of the victims or those who have passed away. In the last three years, from 2022-23 to 2024-25, the Railways has disbursed a total of Rs 30.75 crore in ex-gratia compensation to the families of passengers who lost their lives in train accidents.
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Sweta Mitra
Working in the media for last 7 years. The journey started in the year 2018. For the past few years, my working experience has been in Bengali media. Currently working at Timesbull.com. Here I write like Business, National, and Utility News. My favorite hobbies are listening to music, traveling, food,...
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