Indian Railways plans to implement the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 on its entire broad-gauge railway network which has a length of 60,000 km, ensuring the improvement of safety level and transport services. The ETCS installation will enable continuous updating of Movement Authority in driver’s cab through wireless network.
Until now, the company has implemented the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system conforming to European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 on 342 route kilometers in which Movement Authority (distance to travel) displayed in the driver’s cab is updated, whenever the locomotive passes over a balise fitted on track. This enables train driver to know the condition of signals ahead even when the visibility of signals is poor due to fog or any other reasons. This will provide technological aid to train drivers for avoiding Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD).
At the end of 2017, the Board of Indian Railways approved the proposal to equip 6,000 electric locomotives with ETCS Level 2, a project estimated at EUR 1.45 billion.
Currently, the Indian railway network is equipped with different signalling systems. The ETCS Level 1 has been installed on the 342-route km of which 200 route km on Delhi-Agra, 117 route km on Chennai Suburban network and 25 route km on Kolkata metro railway. Also, an ATP called Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) is functional on 364 route km of Mumbai suburban network, on 240 route km of Central Railway and 124 route km of Western Railway network. In addition, on 250 route km of South Central Railway network a Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is being tested.
Within the railway technological programme, a Global Positioning System (GPS) based on the ‘Fog PASS device’ has been developed which displays the name and distance of approaching signals and other critical landmarks like Un-manned level crossings. About 6,940 fog safe devices have been commissioned in six Zonal Railways (East Central, Northern, North Central, North Eastern, Northeast Frontier and North Western Railways) where the trains pass through fog affected regions.
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