Lok Sabha Question No. 3854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Reasons for Train Derailment
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan, Smt. Sanjna Jatav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3854 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## REASONS FOR TRAIN DERAILMENT

†3854.  SMT. SANJNA JATAV: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is tackling the issue of poor track maintenance a major cause of recent train derailments;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  initiatives  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government to improve safety measures and infrastructure maintenance; and
- (c) whether the Government has failed to install the Kavach anti-collision on system given that only 1465 route kms have been covered so far?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c)  As  a  consequence  of  various  safety  measures  taken  over  the years,  there  has  been  a  steep  decline  in  the  number  of  accidents. Consequential Train Accidents have reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 40 in 2023-24  as  shown  in  the  graph  below.  The  causes  of  these  accidents broadly  include  track  defects,  loco/coach  defects,  equipment  failures, human errors etc.

It  may  be  noted  that  the  consequential  train  accidents  during  the  period 2004-14  was  1711  (average  171  per  annum),  which  has  declined  to  678 during the period 2014-24 (average 68 per annum), i.e. reduction of 60%.

Another  important  index  showing  improved  safety  in  train  operations  is Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) which has reduced from 0.11  in  2014-15  to  0.03  in  2023-24,  indicating  an  improvement of  approx. 73% during the said period.

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Safety  is  accorded  the  highest  priority  on  Indian  Railways.  Various measures  taken  for  upgradation/  improvement  of  infrastructure,  and maintenance practices to enhance safety are as under:

-  Use  of  modern  track  structure  consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossing in turnout renewal works, Pre-stressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base  sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fan-shaped  layout  turnout  on  PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges while carrying out primary track renewals.

-  Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS,  TRT,  T-28  etc  to  reduce  human  errors  and  Monitoring  of  track geometry by OMS  (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC  (Track Recording Cars).
-  Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels, minimizing  the  use of Alumino Thermic Welding and adoption of better  welding  technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
-  Ultrasonic  Flaw  Detection  (USFD)  testing  of  rails  to  detect  flaws  and timely removal of defective rails.
-  Adoption  of  Integrated  Rolling  Block  System  and  Web  based  online monitoring  system  of  track  assets  viz.  Track  database  and  decision support  system  to  decide  rationalized  maintenance  requirement  and optimize inputs.
-  Eliminated  all  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG) routes  and  Interlocking  of  Manned  Level  Crossing  (MLCs)  Gates  for enhancing safety.
-  Regular inspection of Bridges to take up repair/rehabilitation based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
-  Electrical/Electronic  Interlocking  Systems  with  centralized  operation  of points and signals provided to eliminate human failure.
-  Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification of track occupancy by electrical means.
-  Issuance of detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signalling e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc.
-  Providing retro-reflective sigma boards on the mast which is located two OHE masts prior to the signals in electrified territories to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather.

-  Providing GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) to loco pilots in fog affected areas which enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates etc.

## On  Indian  Railways,  the  expenditure  on  Safety  related  activities  has increased over the years as under:-

| SN   | Item                                                          | 2004-05 to 2013-14   | 2014-15 to 2023-24   | 2014-24 Vs. 2004-14   |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
|      | Track Maintenance                                             |                      |                      |                       |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Track Renewal (Rs. in Cr.)                     | 47,038               | 1,09,577             | 2.33 times            |
| 2.   | Rail Renewal Primary (Track Km)                               | 32,260               | 43,335               | 1.34 times            |
| 3.   | Use of high-quality rails (60 Kg)(Km)                         | 57,450               | 1,23,717             | 2.15 times            |
| 4.   | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)                                | 9,917                | 68,233               | 6.88 times            |
| 5.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Rails (Track km) | 20,19,630            | 26,52,291            | 1.31 times            |
| 6.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.)     | 79,43,940            | 1,73,06,046          | 2.17 times            |
| 7.   | New Track KM added (Track km)                                 | 14,985               | 31,180               | 2.08 times            |
| 8.   | Weld failures(Nos.)                                           | In 2013-14: 3699     | In 2023-24: 481      | 87% reductio n        |
| 9.   | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                         | In 2013-14: 2548     | In 2023-24: 383      | 85% reductio n        |
| 10   | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)                                     | Nil                  | 21,127               |                       |

| 11    | Track Machines(Nos.)                                                   | As on 31.03.14= 748       | As on 31.03.24= 1,661                            | 122% increase             |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
| Level | Crossing Gate Elimination                                              | Crossing Gate Elimination | Crossing Gate Elimination                        | Crossing Gate Elimination |
| 1.    | Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                    | As on 31.03.14: 8948      | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | 100% reduction            |
| 2.    | Elimination of Manned Level Crossing Gates (Nos.)                      | 1,137                     | 7,075                                            | 6.21 times                |
| 3.    | Road over Bridges (RoBs)/ Road under Bridges(RUBs) (Nos.)              | 4,148                     | 11,945                                           | 2.88 times                |
| 4.    | Expenditure on LC Elimination (LC+ROB+RUB)                             | 8,825                     | 41,957                                           | 4.75 times                |
| 1.    | Bridge Rehabilitation Expenditure on Bridge Rehabilitation (Rs.in Cr.) | 3,924                     | 8,255                                            | 2.10 times                |
|       | Signalling Works                                                       | Signalling Works          | Signalling Works                                 | Signalling Works          |
| 1.    | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)                                     | 837                       | 2,964                                            | 3.52 times                |
| 2.    | Automatic Block Signaling (Km)                                         | 1,486                     | 2,497                                            | 1.67 times                |
| 3.    | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)                                         | As on 31.03.14: 90        | As on 31.03.24: 19,742                           | 219 times                 |
| SN    | Item                                                                   | 2004-05 to 2013-14        | 2014-15 to 2023-24                               | 2014-24 Vs. 2004-14       |
|       | Rolling Stock                                                          |                           |                                                  |                           |
| 1.    | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)                                      | 2,337                     | 36,933                                           | 15.80 times               |

|   2. | Provision of Fire and Smoke Detection System in AC coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                  |   0 | 19,271   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----|----------|
|    3 | Provision of Fire Detection and Suppression System in Pantry and Power Cars (Nos. of Coaches) |   0 | 2,991    |
|    4 | Provision of Fire Extinguishers in Non-AC coaches (Nos. of Coaches)                           |   0 | 66,840   |

-  Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order (SIL-4).
-  Kavach  aids  the  Loco  Pilot  in  running  of  train  within  specified  speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the trains to run safely during inclement weather.
-  The first  field  trials  on  the  passenger  trains  were  started  in  February 2016. Based on the experience gained and Independent Safety Assessment of the system by Independent Safety Assessor (ISA), three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of KavachVer 3.2.
-  Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020.
-  Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
- a. Installation  of  Station  Kavach  at  each  and  every  station,  block section.
- b. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
- c. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
- d. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
- e. Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.

-  Based  on  deployment  of  Kavach  version  3.2  on1465RKm  on  south central  Railway,  lot  of  experience  was  gained.  Using  that  further improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.
-  Kavach version 4.0 covers all the major features required for the diverse railway  network.  This  is  a  significant  milestone  in  safety  for  Indian Railways.  Within  a  short  period,  IR  has  developed,  tested  and  started deploying Automatic Train Protection System.
-  Major improvement in Version 4.0 includes increased Location Accuracy,  Improved  Information  of  Signal  Aspects  in  bigger  yard, Station  to  Station  Kavach  interface  on  OFC  and  Direct  Interface  to existing  Electronic  Interlocking  System.  With  these  improvements, Kavach  Ver.4.0.  is  planned  for  large  scale  deployment  over  Indian Railways.
-  Progress  of  Key  items  comprising  Kavach  system  on  Indian  Railways upto Nov' 2024 is as under :-
-  Next phase of Kavach implementation is planned as under:-
- a. Project  for  equipping  10,000  Locomotives  has  been  finalized.  69 number of loco sheds have been prepared for equipping with Kavach.
- b. Bids for  track  side  Works  of  Kavach  for  approximately  15000  RKm have been invited.  It covers all GQ, GD, HDN and Identified sections of Indian Railways.

| SN.   | Items                                | Progress   |
|-------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i     | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 5133 Km    |
| ii    | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 540 Nos.   |
| iii   | Provision of Kavach at Stations      | 523 Nos.   |
| iv    | Provision of Kavach in Loco          | 707 Locos  |
| v     | Installation of Track side equipment | 3434 Rkm   |

-  Currently,  3  OEMs  are  approved  for  supply  of  Kavach  System.  To increase  capacity  and  scale  of  implementation,  trials  and  approval  of more OEMs are at different stages. Specialized training programme on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training to all concerned officials. By now more than 9000 technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.

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