Lok Sabha Question No. 190 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Delay of Trains due to Foggy Weather
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.190 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## DELAY OF TRAINS DUE TO FOGGY WEATHER

†*190  SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  complaints  with  respect  to  delay  in  movement  of  trains have not been addressed despite the claims made by the Government;
- (b)  if  so,  the  number  of  trains  delayed  and  the  number of days on which they were delayed at the starting point or the destination point during the last three months along with the reasons therefor, train-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  not  been  able  to  rectify  the  signalling system of the Railways and make arrangements for smooth movement of trains in fog;
- (d)  if  so,  the  reasons therefor along with the stand of the Government in this regard; and

(e)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  rectify  the  signalling system during  foggy  season  to  ensure  timely  departure  of  train  from  its originating place and timely arrival at its destination?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

( SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU )

(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.  190  BY    SHRI  RAHUL  SHEWALE  AND  DR.  SHRIKANT EKNATH  SHINDE  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  15.03.2017 REGARDING DELAY OF TRAINS DUE TO FOGGY WEATHER.

(a) & (b): During the last 3 months, i.e Dec'2016 to Feb'2017, the number of trains  delayed  over  15  minutes  over  Indian  Railways  was  about  518 trains/day as compared to 368 per day in the corresponding period of the previous year. Out of these, approximately 265 trains/day were delayed by more than 15 minutes due to fog and rescheduling amounting to i.e 51 % of the total trains delayed.

To minimize the hardship being faced by passengers and to keep the public informed about the delays, special efforts were made through public interface  points  such  as  stations,  NTES,  via  print  &  electronic  media  to purvey  the  correct  information    of  train  delays  hour  by  hour  so  that  the public is well apprised.

The main reason for  the  slow  movement  of  trains  during  fog  is  the inability  of  the  driver  to  see  the  track  and  signals  ahead  from  a  safe distance due to reduced visibility.  Incidentally, speeds of trains during fog are kept restricted up to 60 kmph in Absolute Block System and 30 kmph in Automatic Signaling Territory.

As  per  railway  working,  location  of  an  approaching  signal  can  be indicated to the driver by use of fog signal (detonators) placed on the track at sufficient distance in advance  of the signal. During dense fog, detonators  are  placed  on  the  track  short  of  the  first  stop  signal  of  the station in Absolute Block System of working in which there is one train in each  Block  Section.    However,  in  the  Automatic  Signaling  territory  each automatic signal pre-warns the aspect of the signal ahead.

As   block  stations  in  the  Automatic  Signaling  territory  have  four  or five (or even more) Automatic Signals ,there can be many trains between two  Block  Stations  and  detonators  are  not  placed  short  of  signals  and speed of the trains is suitably regulated for safe working through different aspects of signals.

- (c)  to  (e)  Functioning  of  signaling  system  is  reliable  and  fail  safe  in  all conditions.    For  Smooth  &  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 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.

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