Lok Sabha Question No. 166 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Cancellation of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NISHIKANT  DUBEY, RAJESH PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 166 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## CANCELLATION OF TRAINS

*166. SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY: SHRI RAJESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of trains which have been cancelled due to fog this year in the country and the revenue loss incurred by the Railways as a result thereof;

(b) whether any strategy has been prepared to combat the problem of delay of trains due to fog and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any new technology is being implemented to reduce the delay/ cancellation of trains due to fog;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e)  the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that trains run on time during the winter season?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  166  BY  SHRI  NISHIKANT  DUBEY  AND SHRI  RAJESH  PANDEY  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 07.03.2018 REGARDING CANCELLATION OF TRAINS

(a) With a view to manage the operational bottlenecks during foggy weather, Indian Railways had cancelled approx. 40 train services of Mail express trains per day from 1 st  November 2017 to 13 th  February 2018  including  planned  cancellation  of  24  pairs  of  Mail  Express trains  and  frequency  reduction  of  29  pairs  of  Mail  express  trains during  the  period  from  01 st   December  2017  to  13 th   February  2018. This also includes day to day operational need based cancellations done  due  to  abnormal  late  running  of  trains  through  fog  affected areas from November 2017 to February 2018.  The monetary loss to the Railways  is not calculated  train-wise or on  the basis of punctuality of the trains. Therefore, the data regarding loss suffered by  the  Railways  due  to  cancellation  and  delay  of  trains  is  not maintained.

- (b)  to  (e)  Yes,  Madam. For smooth and safe movement of trains in fog, the following actions have been taken:
- (1)  Railways ensure the following during winter:
- (i) Adequate availability of detonators at stations.
- (ii) Lime marking across the track at the Signal Warning/Sighting Board.
- (iii) Fresh painting of the Signal Warning (Sighting Board).
- (iv) Fresh painting of Whistle Board, Fog Signal Posts, Road Signs, Lifting barriers of busy level crossings with Yellow/Black luminous indication strips.
- (v) Adequate availability of additional staff for placement of detonators  either  from  the  Engineering  Department  or from the Operating Department.
- (vi) Display of flashing red light tail lamp at the last vehicle of trains even during day time if the dense fog persists in lieu of tail boards in normal working.
- (vii)
- Counseling of staff involved in train operation.
- (viii) Intensive,  round  the  clock  monitoring  of  trains  is  done during fog at all three levels viz., Divisional, Zonal Head Quarter and Railway Board to ensure their punctuality.
- (ix) To ensure running of trains right time when pairing trains are  running  late,  scratch  rakes  are  inducted  to  the extent operationally feasible.
- (x) To  avoid  delay  of  trains  due  to  foggy  weather  and  to enhance  level  of  safety  in  automatic  block  signaling sections affected by fog, the modified automatic signaling  has  been  introduced  which  allows  only  two trains between stations.
- (2)   In  addition,  the  following  technological  advancements  with respect to signaling are being undertaken:
- (i) Indian Railways have implemented Automatic Train Protection  (ATP)  system  conforming  to  European  Train Controlling System (ETCS) Level-I on 342 Route kilometers in which Movement Authority (Distance to travel) displayed in the Loco Cab is updated, whenever Loco passes over a balise fitted on track. This enables loco pilot to know the condition  of  signals  ahead  even  when  the  visibility  of signals is poor due to fog or any other reasons.
- (ii) Indian Railways is now planning to implement an advanced version of Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system namely European  Train  Controlling  System  (ETCS)  Level-II  on  its entire  BG  network  of  60,000  Route  Kilometers  which  will enable continuous updating of Movement Authority in Loco Cab through wireless network. The continuous updating of Movement  Authority  will  ensure  improved  speed  and  line capacity as compared to ETCS Level-I.
- (iii)  A  Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  based  'Fog  PASS device' has been developed which displays the name and distance of approaching signals and other critical landmarks like Un-manned level crossings etc. in advance during  poor  visibility  conditions.  It  is  expected  to  help reduce  stress on Loco  Pilots while running in foggy weather. About 6940 fog safe devices have been commissioned  in  6  (Six)  Zonal  Railways  (East  Central, Northern, North Central, North Eastern, Northeast Frontier and North Western Railways) where the trains pass through fog affected region.

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