Lok Sabha Question No. 1970 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Delay in Trains due to Foggy Weather
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1970 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.03.2018

## DELAY IN TRAINS DUE TO FOGGY WEATHER

1970. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  unnecessary  delays  of trains especially during winter fog; and
- (b) the number of trains found running late in the last one year, zone-wise data thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1970  BY  SHRI  ABHISHEK  SINGH  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.03.2018 REGARDING DELAY IN TRAINS DUE TO FOGGY WEATHER

- (a)  The  following  actions  have  been  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to  prevent unnecessary delay and for smooth and safe movement of trains especially during winter fog:
- (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.
- Intensive,  round  the  clock  monitoring  of  trains  is  done  during fog  at  all  three  levels  viz.,  Divisional,  Zonal  Head  Quarter  and
- (viii) 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 also 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.

- (b)    Zone  wise  number  of  Mail/Express  trains  reaching  destination  late during last year for the period from 01 March-2017 to 28 February-2018 is tabulated below:

| Zone wise average number of trains per day reaching destination late during last year for the period from 01 March 2017 to 28 February 2018   | Zone wise average number of trains per day reaching destination late during last year for the period from 01 March 2017 to 28 February 2018   | Zone wise average number of trains per day reaching destination late during last year for the period from 01 March 2017 to 28 February 2018   | Zone wise average number of trains per day reaching destination late during last year for the period from 01 March 2017 to 28 February 2018   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr.                                                                                                                                           | Zonal Railways                                                                                                                                | Average Number of Scheduled trains per day                                                                                                    | Average number of trains per day reaching destination late                                                                                    |
| 1                                                                                                                                             | Central                                                                                                                                       | 144                                                                                                                                           | 23                                                                                                                                            |
| 2                                                                                                                                             | East Coast                                                                                                                                    | 59                                                                                                                                            | 15                                                                                                                                            |
| 3                                                                                                                                             | East Central                                                                                                                                  | 110                                                                                                                                           | 50                                                                                                                                            |
| 4                                                                                                                                             | Eastern                                                                                                                                       | 103                                                                                                                                           | 32                                                                                                                                            |
| 5                                                                                                                                             | Konkan Rail                                                                                                                                   | 8                                                                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                                                             |
| 6                                                                                                                                             | Corporation Ltd North Central                                                                                                                 | 45                                                                                                                                            | 15                                                                                                                                            |
| 7                                                                                                                                             | North eastern                                                                                                                                 | 73                                                                                                                                            | 30                                                                                                                                            |
| 8                                                                                                                                             | Northeast Frontier                                                                                                                            | 70                                                                                                                                            | 13                                                                                                                                            |
| 9                                                                                                                                             | Northern                                                                                                                                      | 307                                                                                                                                           | 120                                                                                                                                           |
| 10                                                                                                                                            | North Western                                                                                                                                 | 80                                                                                                                                            | 19                                                                                                                                            |
| 11                                                                                                                                            | South Central                                                                                                                                 | 115                                                                                                                                           | 11                                                                                                                                            |
| 12                                                                                                                                            | South East Central                                                                                                                            | 25                                                                                                                                            | 7                                                                                                                                             |
| 13                                                                                                                                            | South Eastern                                                                                                                                 | 82                                                                                                                                            | 18                                                                                                                                            |
| 14                                                                                                                                            | Southern                                                                                                                                      | 194                                                                                                                                           | 38                                                                                                                                            |
| 15                                                                                                                                            | South Western                                                                                                                                 | 86                                                                                                                                            | 14                                                                                                                                            |
| 16                                                                                                                                            | West Central                                                                                                                                  | 43                                                                                                                                            | 10                                                                                                                                            |
| 17                                                                                                                                            | Western                                                                                                                                       | 124                                                                                                                                           | 21                                                                                                                                            |
| Grand Total                                                                                                                                   | Grand Total                                                                                                                                   | 1669                                                                                                                                          | 436                                                                                                                                           |

*****