Lok Sabha Question No. 484 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Signalling System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Shyam Yadav Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.484

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## SIGNALLNG SYSTEM

484. DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S: SHRI SHYAM SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the outdated signalling system is one of the major causes of train accidents;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Railways to modernize the signalling system in Railways, zone -wise;

(c) whether the Indian Railways is set to receive modern signalling systems to improve safety, line capacity allowing trains to run at high speed;

(d) if so, the details of the cost of implementation of the programme;

(e) the  routes  identified  where  this  modernization  work  is  to  be  implemented along with the nodal agency responsible to implement this programme;

(f) the details of major innovations implemented or introduced in the last three years to improve the signalling system at par with the advanced railway system across the world; and

(g) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  strengthening  signalling  and telecom mechanism to control the increasing traffic on rail tracks?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and (b) No, Sir. Signalling System enhances safety in train operations.

Updation  and  replacement  of  equipments  in  use,  over  Indian  Railways  is  a continuous  process  and  are  undertaken  based  on  its  condition,  operational needs and availability of resources.

In order to further improve safety in train operation and generate additional line capacity, modernization of Signalling System has been taken in hand. Following major steps have been taken.

- (i) 6010 (96% of total stations) Stations on Indian Railway have already been equipped with modern Electrical/Electronic Signalling Interlocking System.
- (ii) Electronic  Interlocking  are  being  adopted  on  a  large  scale  to  derive benefits of digital technologies in train operation and to enhance safety. So far  1814  stations  have  been  provided  with  Electronic  Interlocking  upto 31.12.2019.
- Axle  Counters  for  Automatic  clearance  of  Block  Section  (BPAC)  are provided  to  ensure  complete  arrival  of  train  without  manual  intervention before  granting  line  clear  to  receive  next  train  and  to  reduce  human element. These systems have been provided on 5563 block sections upto
- (iii) 31.12.2019.
- (iv) In order to increase line capacity to run more trains & lower per unit cost of  train  operations  on  existing  High  Density  Routes  of  Indian  Railways, Automatic Block Signaling is a cost effective solution. As on 31.12.2019, Automatic Block Signaling has been provided on 3181 Route km.
- (v) Enhancing  Safety  at  Level  Crossing  Gates  has  been  a  major  area  of concern. Safety gets enhanced by interlocking level crossings with Signals. Indian  Railways  have  provided  interlocking  with  Signals  at  11552  Level Crossing Gates to enhance the safety at Level Crossings as on 31.12.2019.

(c) to (e)  Yes, Sir. Modernization of Signalling System is proposed to be taken up on High Density Routes of Indian Railways including Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and Golden Diagonal (GD) Route.  The work includes provision of Modern Train Control System.

As a prelude to modernization, work of signalling system on Indian Railways, four works  totaling  640  Route  km  at  total  cost  of ₹ 1,609  crores  have  been sanctioned in Supplementary Works Programme 2018-19 in following sections for extensive trials.

|   SN | Section                 | Railway               |
|------|-------------------------|-----------------------|
|    1 | Nagpur - Badnera        | Central Railway       |
|    2 | Renigunta -Yerraguntala | South Central Railway |
|    3 | Vizianagaram - Palasa   | East Coast Railway    |
|    4 | Bina - Jhansi           | North Central Railway |

Tenders for the works have since been opened and are under evaluation. M/s RailTel is the nodal agency for executing the work.

Two works of Raising of speed to 160kmph on existing New Delhi - Howrah and New  Delhi  -  Mumbai  routes  have  been  sanctioned  including  modernization  of Signalling. Detailed estimates are being prepared by concerned nodal railways (Western Railway for Delhi - Mumbai route and North Central Railway for Delhi Howrah route).

- (f)    An  indigenous  Automatic  Train  Protection  (ATP)  System  namely  Train Collision  Avoidance System (TCAS) has been developed by Indian Railways  in association with Indian manufacturers.

The system has been installed on Lingampalli - Vikarabad - Wadi & Vikarabad -

Bidar section (250 Route km) of South Central Railway. Further works on additional 1199 Route km on South Central Railway are also in progress. The System shall provide protection against Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD). Works  for  implementation  of  Centralised  Traffic  Control  (CTC)  System  to improve  line  capacity  and  efficient  management  of  train  operations  from  a

(g) central location covering large sections, have also been taken up.

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