Lok Sabha Question No. 1493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Cancellation of Trains due to Fog
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Bhagwanth Khuba, Virendra  Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1493 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021

## CANCELLATION OF TRAINS DUE TO FOG

1493.  MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA: DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that like previous years this year also trains are running late/cancelled due to fog and if so, the details thereof, Zonewise;
- (b) whether the uavailability of path is (Platform/ lines) also one of the reasons  for  delay  in  trains,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action taken by the Government in this regard so far;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  shortage  of  washing  pit  lines  and  stabling lines and if so, the details thereof Zone-wise; and
- (d) the number of new washing pit lines that have been established in the last five years, zone-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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. 1493 BY MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK,  SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA AND DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  10.02.2021  REGARDING  CANCELLATION  OF TRAINS DUE TO FOG

(a) &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.    Operations  of  trains  get  affected  by  fog.  The Zone-wise details of trains which ran late and that which have been cancelled during the period December, 2020 to January, 2021, due to fog is as under:

| Sl   | Name of Zone                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   No. of trains affected | No. of trains cancelled   |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1    | CENTRAL RAILWAY EAST COAST RAILWAY EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY EASTERN RAILWAY KONKAN RAILWAY NORTH CENTRAL RAILWAY NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY NORTHEAST FRONTIER NORTHERN RAILWAY NORTH WESTERN RAIWAY SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY SOUTH EAST CENTRAL SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY SOUTHERN RAILWAY SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY WEST CENTRAL RAILWAY WESTERN RAILWAY |                       20 | 2                         |
| 2    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       10 | NIL                       |
| 3    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                      360 | 4                         |
| 4    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       82 | 8                         |
| 5    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                        0 | NIL                       |
| 6    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                     2287 | 4                         |
| 7    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                      248 | NIL                       |
| 8    | RAILWAY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                       52 | 14                        |
| 9    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                     1390 | 4                         |
| 10   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       41 | 8                         |
| 11   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       49 | NIL                       |
| 12   | RAILWAY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                        1 | NIL                       |
| 13   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       15 | NIL                       |
| 14   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                        2 | NIL                       |
| 15   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                        3 | NIL                       |
| 16   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                      198 | NIL                       |
| 17   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                       31 | NIL                       |
|      | TOTAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                     4789 | 44                        |

To  assist  the  Loco  Pilots  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.  Location of stations, warning boards, signals, level crossing  gates  and  Whistle  for  Level  crossing  (W/L)  boards  in  the section is fed in the equipment.  It displays speed of the locomotive, distance and time to reach landmarks and is an important aid to Loco Pilots.

In addition to fog, other factors also impact punctual running of trains  which  include  capacity  constraints  including  path  constraints on  saturated  routes,  asset  failures,  alarm  chain  pulling,  agitations, cattle  run  over,  bad  weather  and  other  unforeseen  circumstances. Based  on  assessments  of  factors  impeding  the  punctual  running  of trains,  remedial measures,  both  short  term  and  long  term, are initiated.  High priority is accorded to making resources available for speedy  execution  of  critical  capacity  augmentation  as  these  on completion  inter-alia  facilitate  improved  efficiency  and  reliability  in train operations.

- (c)  Adequate  numbers  of  stabling  lines  and  washing  lines  (Pit  lines) are available for existing maintenance requirement over Zonal Railways.

(d) The number of new washing pit lines that have been established in the last five years, zone-wise are as under:-

| Zonal Railway              |   Number of new washing pit lines commissioned |
|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Northern Railway           |                                             09 |
| North Central Railway      |                                             03 |
| North Western Railway      |                                             06 |
| North Eastern Railway      |                                             10 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |                                             07 |
| Southern Railway           |                                             03 |
| South East Central Railway |                                             01 |
| South Western Railway      |                                             03 |
| South Central Railway      |                                             05 |
| South Eastern Railway      |                                             02 |
| Eastern Railway            |                                             09 |
| East Central Railway       |                                             00 |
| East Coast Railway         |                                             03 |
| Western Railway            |                                             11 |
| West Central Railway       |                                             02 |
| Central Railway            |                                             04 |
| Konkan Railway             |                                             01 |
| Total                      |                                             79 |

*****