Lok Sabha Question No. 5247 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Trains Running Late due to Fog
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5247 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## TRAINS RUNNING LATE DUE TO FOG

†5247. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of  RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether trains run very late during the months from November to January;
- (b)  if  so,  the  measures  being  taken by the Government to tackle the problem of fog so that the trains service may improve;
- (c) whether the functioning of trains in Northern and Eastern Railways regularly  face  obstacles  due  to  which  the  trains  run  behind  their schedule; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5247 BY SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2017 REGARDING TRAINS RUNNING LATE DUE TO FOG (a) No, Madam. Approximately 70% of Mail/express trains over Indian Railways  run  to  time  during  the  months  from  November  to  January. Normally, some of the trains traversing through Northern and Eastern parts of the country  may  get  delayed  during  the months  from November to January almost every year due to reduced visibility owing to dense fog. Delay to trains during the said period, mainly depends on the period of fog and its severity. In the last financial year (2016-17), fog commenced from 2 nd  November 2016 and continued upto 3 rd  week of  February  2017  whereas  in  the  previous  year  (2015-16),  fog  had commenced from 5 th  November 2015 and lasted upto 8 th  January 2016. (b)  For  Smooth  and  Safe  movement  of  trains  in  fog,  the  following action has been taken:(i)    Smooth  and  Safe  running  in  fog  is  ensured  by  modifying  the automatic signaling to increase separation distance between trains. (ii)    The  specifications  of  Train  Collision  Avoidance  System  (TCAS) under field trials incorporate cab signaling to provide  adequate visibility to loco pilots. (iii)   Fog safe devices with audio indication about location of signal are being provided in locos in phased manner. (iv)    'Trinetra'  technology  for  improved visibility during foggy weather conditions is also under development. (c)  &  (d)  Punctuality  performance  of  Eastern  and  Northern  Railways during the last financial year (1 April 2016 to 28 March 2017) was 91% and 73% respectively. Punctuality performance of Northern Railway is mainly affected by adverse weather conditions (fog during NovemberFebruary  period)  and  other  factors  like  heavy  road  traffic  at  level crossing gates across the Indian Railways network; multi faceted law and order problem, including public agitations and bandh calls in left wing extremism affected areas, miscreant activities such as theft of Railway assets (over head equipment wires, signaling cables and other equipment); mid-section run over cases involving cattles and humans due to no-fencing of Railway tracks and Capacity constraints etc. Indian  Railways has initiated various measures to improve punctuality such as prioritization of preventive maintenance of assets to minimize asset failures, capacity enhancement  projects by construction of additional loop lines at stations, doubling, construction of third line corridors, automatic signaling, construction of low height subway to replace level  crossings,  Rail  under  Bridges  and  Rail  Over Bridges,  etc.    In  addition,  zonal  Railways  have  also  been  advised  to have better co-ordination with Civil and Police authorities of States to deal with situations arising out of law and order problems. ********