Safety Enhancement in Railways Applying Technology

Loss of life, property and subsequent postmortem have become order of the day along with blaming, suspecting and suspending one or other.’ There is no use of crying over the spilt milk’ shouldn’t remain as a proverb. It should be erased by ‘Prevention is better than cure’.

Implementing the technology based safety features is one of the ways to reduce the accidents.

Such technology based suggestions are listed below:

1. Almost all highway roads are by lane ones.Similarily train routes should have at least two parallel tracks through out.

2. The aircraft carry 100- 200 passengers or more and are fitted with the Traffic Collision Avoidance System.

The trains carry 5-8 times the aircraft capacity. Hence without compromising on safety norms, such vital equipment has to be provided in trains too.

3. Global Position Monitoring System is becoming part and parcel of most of the travelling modes. The system can also be provided in trains.

4. Communication System is yet to be installed in trains. (FIG 1)

External communication system will provide means for the engine crew to communicate with the other train crew as well as with various station staff.

Internal communication will provide facility to communicate with the passengers on various information.

5. Modified Signal System:

Presently a mechanical signal in front of the train signals the driver. In addition the guard from the end blows the whistle. ( FIG 2)

Instead on all the bogies indicators can be provided. There can be three indicators on both sides,
as shown in the diagram with the meaning of indicators as mentioned in the diagram.(FIG 3)

6. Platform Modifying System (FIG 4)

Presently there is no platform monitoring system for the crew from the engine. These systems are well in application in several other modes of travel.

Using the system, the engine crew can monitor the platform to observe the boarding / alighting of the passengers. Accordingly they can illuminate the indicators.

7. Avoiding slippage into the track from the bogie or platform (FIG 5)

There are several incidents/accidents on the platform while entering the train or alighting from the train. The passengers slip into the train track as shown in Fig A, which can be avoided by a design shown in Fig B.

8. The engine crew shall be provided with the land mark information of the level crossings that come across on the route, so that they can blow the horn before approaching the crossing, to alert the trespassers. (FIG 6)

9. Speed brakes/warnings/obstacle free zones near the junctions: Multiple speed brakes, warning indicators and obstacle free zones near the road and railway track junctions will avoid several accidents.(FIG 7& 8)

10. Floor level crossings and flyovers on the tracks in railway stations: They provide lot of relief to the passengers. Let passengers have these privileges. (FIG 9 & 10)

11. Vibration pick off units: When the train is going fast on a track, the track may vibrate off the ground. Using sensors, the vibrations can be picked off for indication to the driver. The driver can avert major accidents like skipping the tracks. (FIG 11)

The above technology based suggestions enhance the safety in trains and in train journeys.

The article may kindly be published in your magazine for the benefit of several passengers.The required diagrams is attached in the power point file.

Please let me know the status of acceptance for publication.

Thanking you