Lok Sabha Question No. 2152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Delay/Cancellation of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Parvatagouda Chandanagouda Gaddigoudar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2152 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## DELAY/CANCELLATION OF TRAINS

2152. SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the trains which have been delayed/ cancelled due to  fog  and  fragile  law  and  order  situation  in  various  parts  of  the country and the loss of revenue incurred by the Railways as a result thererof; and
- (b)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to ensure  that  train  services  do  not  get  disturbed  due  to  foggy conditions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  A  large  number  of  trains  are  affected  every  year  during  foggy weather in the winter months in Northern parts of the country. The percentage of Mail/Express trains delayed due to fog between 16 th December 2019 and 25 th  February 2020 is 15.99%.   With a view to managing the operational bottlenecks during foggy weather, Indian Railways  had cancelled 3608  services of Mail Express  trains (approx. 55 train services per day) including planned cancellation of 39 Pairs of Mail Express trains, frequency reduction of 23 pairs of Mail express trains from 16 th  December 2019 to 25 th  February 2020. Indian Railways had cancelled 462 services of Mail Express due to law and order issues during this period.

The monetary loss to the Railways is not calculated train-wise or on the basis of punctuality of trains.

- (b) The following steps have been taken by the Railways to avoid delay of  trains during the foggy weather:
1.  To enhance the level of safety for trains running in automatic block signaling  sections,  a  modified  automatic  signaling  system  has  been introduced  in  Northern  Railway  and  North  Central  Railway  which restricts  the  number  of  trains  to  two  between  two  stations  during foggy weather.
2. Luminous paints/strips have  been provided on the  Signal Sighting Boards viz., Passenger and Good warning boards, Signals at stations/interlocked  Level  Crossing  Gates  to  enhance  visibility  of signal aspects to loco pilots.
3. Inspections at Officers and supervisors level, including night inspections, are being carried during foggy weather for spreading more awareness and alertness among the maintenance staff.
4. Railways have now  decided to implement Automatic Train Protection  (ATP)  Systems  on  select  sections.  These  systems  enable Loco  Pilots  to  drive  trains  even  during  heavy  fog  as  movement authority/Signal  aspect  is  displayed  in  Cab  of  the  Loco.    This  helps Loco Pilot to run the train confidently even during impaired visibility. The following of ATP systems are working or/in-progress:
- (i)  Train  Protection  and  Warning  System:  Automatic  Train  Protection (ATP) System based on European Train Control System (ETCS Level-1) Technology i.e. Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) has been implemented on 345 Route km (200 Route km Delhi - Agra Section, 117 Route km Chennai Suburban section and 28 Route km of Metro Railway Kolkata).
- (ii) Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS): Train Collision Avoidance System  (TCAS)is  an  indigenous  Automatic  Train  Protection  (ATP) System developed in association with three Indian manufacturers.  The

system  has  been  installed  on  Lingampalli  -  Vikarabad  -  Wadi  and Vikarabad - Bidar sections (250 Route km) on South Central Railway. (iii)  Pilot  projects  for  the  provision  of  Modern  Train  Control  System (MTCS)  based  on  latest  LTE  based  European  Train  Control  System (Level  2)  is  under  implementation  on  4  pilot  sections  of  1840  Route Kms. Two works of raising of speed upto 160kmph on existing New Delhi Howrah and New Delhi - Mumbai Routes have been sanctioned.  MTCS (based on ETCS Level-2) is also being provided on existing New DelhiHowrah and New Delhi-Mumbai section to enable operation of trains at 160 Km. 5.    To  ensure  that    train  services  are  not  disturbed  due  to  foggy conditions and to assist the Loco Pilots  to run the train during foggy weather  condition,  Fog  PASS  Device,  a  Global  Positioning  System (GPS) based hand held portable device,  is given to Loco Pilots in fog affected  sections.      It  serves  as  an  aid  for  the  crew  during  foggy weather  through  audio  visual  alarm,  wherever  any  landmark  comes within  the  Geo-fence  range.    Locations  of  stations,  warning  boards, signals,  level  crossing  gates  and  Whistle  for  Level  crossing  (W/L) boards in the section are fed in the equipment, which displays speed of the locomotive, distance and time to reach landmarks.

*****