Salient features of IR

• More than 150 years old• Beginning it was total private ownership• Now it is owned and managed by the

GOI• Mix of the oldest technology to the latest

state of the art• Largest employer

SURVEY

• Annual output measured in billions• Largest network under single

management• Perceived as harbinger of economic

development• Considered the lifeline of the nation

IR’s daily Transport Output

          2 Million Train Kms   17 Million Passengers   2 Million Tonnes freight loading   8800 Passenger trains  

5900 Freight trains

IR's trains cover the round _trip distance between earth and moon, four times a day !

To err is human

To safeguard against that is

Rail Signalling

HISTORY OF RAILWAY HISTORY OF RAILWAY SIGNALLINGSIGNALLING

• 18251825: FIRST RAILWAY LINE FOR GOODS : FIRST RAILWAY LINE FOR GOODS TRAFFIC WAS OPENED BETWEEN TRAFFIC WAS OPENED BETWEEN DARLINGTON TO STOCKTON (U.K.) DARLINGTON TO STOCKTON (U.K.)

UNIFORMED MEN ON HORSES GUIDED THE UNIFORMED MEN ON HORSES GUIDED THE TRAINTRAIN

• 18301830 : FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN BETWEEN : FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTERLIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTERPOLICEMAN WERE POSTED AT FIXED INTERVALSPOLICEMAN WERE POSTED AT FIXED INTERVALS

HISTORY OF RAILWAY HISTORY OF RAILWAY SIGNALLINGSIGNALLING

1838 : 1838 : POLICEMEN WERE REPLACED BY FIXED POLICEMEN WERE REPLACED BY FIXED MECHANICAL SIGNALSMECHANICAL SIGNALS

1853 1853 : FIRST TRAIN SERVICE INTRODUCED ON : FIRST TRAIN SERVICE INTRODUCED ON INDIAN RAILWAYS, INDIAN RAILWAYS,

SEMAPHORE SIGNALS WERE USED.SEMAPHORE SIGNALS WERE USED.

1825

Time Interval System

1872

Track Circuit

1906

Auxiliary

Warning

System

First Train: Darlington Stockton

Development of Rail Signalling: Worldover

1874

Continuous Braking System

Space Interval System

1856

Interlocking

1853

First Train: Bombay VT Thane

1966

Centralised Traffic Control

Gorakhpur- Chappra)

Development of Rail Signalling: India

1958

First Route Relay Interlocking : Churchgate,WR

1894

Interlocking: Ghaziabad- Peshawar

23 Stations

1920

Double Wire Signalling

Became a Must for MAUQ by 1950s

1972

Axle Counter

1972

First AWS: ER (Gaya-Mughalsarai, Howrah-Burdwan)

2003

Train Management

System

Churchgate Virar Section

Development of Rail Signalling: India

1970

First Solid State Interlocking

(Srirangam Station, S Rly)

1987

AWS : On WR: Churchgate Virar

Section

Areas wherein Signalling can prevent accidents

• Accident at station.

• Accident in Block Section.

• Accident Level Crossing gate.

INTERLOCKING• Signaling and interlocking was first introduced

on 23 crossing stations between Peshawar and Ghaziabad in the country in 1894.

• Colour light signaling was introduced on Indian Railways by GIP Railways in 1928 between Bombay VT and Byculla stations.

• Today, over 82% of total 6527 block stations on Indian Railways are provided with some form of signalling and interlocking arrangements.

• Over 67% of total interlocked stations on Indian Railways are now provided with colour light signalling.

Interlocking Principle

• Complete route for reception of train is unoccupied

• All points are correctly set & locked

• All Conflicting signals are at Danger

Position(RED)

• Level Crossing gates (if any) are closed

Till Then

All above are True

CHECK

*• Progress of InterlockingProgress of Interlocking

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

1950-51

1964-65

1970-71

1980-81

1990-91

2000-01

2001-02

2005-06

STD-III STD-II STD-I MNI/NI

StatusStatus Interlocked Stations 5692 Nos. Colour Light Signal Stations

PI/RRI/SSI 3654 stnsMech lever frame 671 stns

Automatic Block Signalling 3356 Tkm Second Distant Signal 982 stns Block Proving by Axle Counter 220 stns AWS 329 RKms Interlocked LC gates 6708 nos.

(in units)As on 31.03.07

Installation

157Solid State Interlocking (No. of stations)

234Route Relay Interlocking (No. of stations)

3250Panel Interlocking (No. of stations)

4,318Multiple Aspect Colour Light Signalling (No. of stations)

3,356Automatic Block Signalling (Track kms.)

1,930Token less Block Working(No. of Block Sections)

Signalling Growth on IR

Stations 1969 1979 1989 2001 2007 • Interlocked 4815 5091 5403 5647 5692• MACLS - 997 1899 3009 4318• PI - 314 895 2103 3250• RRI - 90 123 219 234 • SSI/EI 14 157 • Auto Signals 825 1437 2051 3419 3356

(TKm.)• Interlocked Gates - - 5223 6283 8147• Gates with phone - - 9615 14227 15872

Panel/Route Relay/Solid State Interlocking• Conventional mechanical lever frames highly prone to

failures, miscreant activity and time consuming operation.

• In panel/route relay interlocking: centralized operation of points and signals.

• Electronic interlocking is the modern signaling system using solid state technology.

• 3641 locations provided with PI/RRI/SSIs.

• Provision of 900 PI/RRI/SSI works are in progress, including about 230 SSIs.

S ignalling Solutions to take care of human error

S.NO. ITEM Equipment/System

1. Reception on occupied line Track circuit

2. Train dispatched on occupied Block working with blocked section axle counter,Automatic

signalling,ACD

3 Driver passing signal at danger AWS, ACD

and to prevent collision

4 Blank signal Double filament bulb LED signal

Track Circuit• Eliminates use of human agency to

physically ensure occupation or otherwise of the track.

• Detects presence or otherwise of a train through an electrical circuit, in which rails form a part of the circuit.

• Prevents reception of a train on an occupied line.

Track Circuit

Insulation joints

Feed End

Typical D.C. track circuit

Relay

Track CircuitTrack Circuit

Insulation joints

Feed End

Typical D.C. track circuit

Relay

Jointless Track Circuit

• Eliminates tedious job of maintaining insulation joints, thus improving reliability.

• Requires less maintenance as equipments are centralized.

• So far 1000 no. AFTCs have been provided.

Progress of Track Circuiting (Safety Device to prevent Collision)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

Total

Reduction in Collisions (at Stations) due to Track Circuits

0102030405060708090

100Total T.C.locations (in'000)Collisions 69

87

50

29 162500 5100 8064

12234

87

69

Axle Counter• Eliminates requirement of insulated joints &

wooden/concrete sleepers .• Useful in station yards, where drainage is poor.• Length of track circuit is not limited.• More than 4000 nos. axle counters for track

circuiting and 632 block sections for block working (last vehicle proving) are installed.

• Digital axle counter - high reliability.• Indigenous Development/Cross Approval of DAC

Colour Light Signals

• Improved visibility• Improved safety• Higher speed• Boosts drivers confidence

LED Signals

(Light Emitting Diode)

So far about 3000 signal aspects have been provided with LED based signals and work in progress for another 5000 signal

aspects

ADVANTAGES ELIMINATION OF

BULB FUSINGHIGHER VISIBILITY

CURRENT CONSUMTION LOW

2nd Distant Signal

Provision of Second Distant Signal

Sighting Board Distant Home

.4 Km I Km(a) Existing signalling arrangement

1 Km 1 Km 2nd Distant Inner Distant Home

1 Km 1 Km (b) Second Distant Signal

1 km1 km

Yy y

R

DOUBLE DISTANT

SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN RUNNING TIME OF TRAINS

DRIVER’S CONFIDENCE INCREASED FORRUN THROUGH TRAINS

X Y ZBA

Monitoring system Microwave

Backup

,

Communication line

1200 Stations provided with Data Loggers

Some Important AlarmsAudio visual popup on screen with details of the following:Signal passing at dangerSignal gone to DangerPoint failureFailure of all AC suppliesLow voltage of battery suppliesPanel button stuck upLoose packing of pointsTrain entering in block section with out line clear

THE NEW DIAGONSIS TOOL FOR SAFETY & IMPROVED TRAIN

OPERATIONS- DATA LOGGERS DATA LOGGERS HELP DETECTING• Drivers passing a Signal at Danger• Station staff making mistake of Placing Signal at Danger at last

minute.• Driver passing on a turnout at excessive speed.• Station staff inattentive and delays in taking off the signal.• Equipment failing in unsafe condition.• Problems in signalling circuits due to design or maintenance.• Problems due to electric power fluctuations.• P-way deficiencies in the turnouts not noticed during

maintenance.• Improper maintenance of track circuits due to poor ballast

conditions.• Signal staff working on the equipment and making mistakes.

Auxiliary Warning System(AWS)

Applies Brakes automatically in case Driver disregards a Red Signal

Regulates Train Speed to 15 KMPH on Yellow Aspect

Controls Train speed on RED signal(Available on WR (1987) & CR Suburban Sections

on Mumbai).

ATP : Automatic Train Protection

Suburban Trains,

Mumbai

Train Protection and Warning Train Protection and Warning System(TPWS)System(TPWS)

-TPWS, a variant of AWS , having functionality

and MMI of ETCS(level I) (Limited ) has now

been adopted for provision on Indian

Railways.

-Works in progress on 280 TKms of section on

Southern and North Central Railways

Train Protection and Warning Train Protection and Warning Systems TPWSSystems TPWS

Minimum Features catered: Euro balise based . Functionality and

MMI similar to ETCS-I (limited mobility) Prevention of Signal Passing at Danger

(Red signal)- SPAD Automatic Speed Control and Train

Protection. Speed Indication in the cab Enforcement of temporary speed

restrictions at Work Sites

Automatic Train Control• So far no aid to drivers to operate train under

adverse visibility (fog, dust storm etc.).• Provides adequate safety and utilises full line

capacity under adverse visibility • Cab signalling: Signal aspects are displayed inside

cab indicating optimum speed . • Proposed in Metro/Kolkata & DMRC• In future, cab signalling will be provided on high

speed lines and metros

Block Proving by Axle Counter (BPAC)

• Present system of manual verification of block clearance is a safety risk under heavy traffic density.

• With BPAC, block clearance is automatically proved with complete arrival of train.

• Improves line capacity & safety.

• At present 973 Block Sections have been provided with BPAC

Anti Collision Device ACD• A micro-processor based equipment to

prevent head-on, side and rear-end collisions at high speed. Also Provides warning at level crossing gates.

• Works on Global Positioning System (GPS) and Angular Deviation Count principle.

• All ACDs communicate with each other with in 3 kms range.

ACD Status• ACD system on 1800 Kms of BG section of N.F.

Railway introduced on trial in the year 2004-05 & Commissioned in June 2007.

• ACD Survey work of about 750 kms each on S.Rly. & S.C.Rly also started.

• Further ACD survey at 10000 RKms and ACD works at additional 1750 RKms also sanctioned .

Level Crossings

• Unmanned Level crossings = 20738• Manned level Crossings =16607• Action plan in progress to provide:

– Interlocking arrangements– Telephones– Train actuated warning devices (TAWD)

• Manned LCs with Tele =15872 (94%)

• Interlocked LCs = 8147 (49%)

Reduction in Accidents at LC gates - Safety Measures taken

0102030405060708090

100

No. of interlockedgates(in '000)No. of L C gates withtelephone(in '000)Accidents

35003800

14729670814

26

90

Train actuated warning device (TAWD) for LC gates

• Audio-visual warning of approaching train to road

users

• Field trials were earlier conducted with ¾ types of

devices.

• 2 types of technologies , viz; axle detector based and

open track circuit based, short listed for further field

trials at 100 LC gates (90 manned & 10 unmanned).

• Large scale adoption will be based on their

performance.

S.No. Description Existing in use Technologies

Emerging and Future Technologies

1. 

Interlocking Lever frame, Panel/

Route relay interlocking

Electronic inter-locking – SSI

2. Power supply Conventional

arrangement

Integrated power supply & Solar power packs

3. Track circuits DC & AC Jointless track circuit e.g. AFTC suitable for both AC & DC.

4. Axle counters Analog Digital 

5. Signals Semaphore and CLS (3 aspect) 

CLS (4 aspect)Cab signalling

6.   

Signal lamps Double and triple pole lamps

LED signals

7. Signalling Cables Copper Optical Fibre Cable

8. Point machines Suitable for 115 mm switch opening and a rated life of 0.15 million operations

Fit for 160 mm switch opening with external clamp lock and a rated life of one million operations

9. Predictive maintenance through diagnostics tool

Data loggers at station

Networking of data loggers and providing centralized NMS for maintenance of signaling system

10. Block working Conventional single/double lineInstruments, Automatic block Signaling

Block proving by axle counters,Automatic block Signaling , Radio block, Moving block

11. Collision Protection AWS only in Mumbai suburban on EMUs

ACD, TPWS, ATC, Radio based ETCS

12. Level crossing gates Conventional inter-Locking with conventional barriers

LC GATE interlocking with electrically operated barrier and road user warning through ACD/TAWD.

MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND ASSET MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND ASSET RELIABILITY – MODERNISATION AND RELIABILITY – MODERNISATION AND

UPGRADATIONUPGRADATION

• Manual operations have to be performed during the time of equipment failures.

• Staff tend to adopt shortcut methods and are susceptible to create an unsafe condition leading to an accident.

• Equipment failure is properly analyzed and problem if any is taken up with vendor through RDSO.

Present Maintenance Practices

Frequent maintenance as per periodicity, Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, is applied when equipment is still operative and proactive treatment is given consisting of checks, examination and supervisory inspection.

Proposed Maintenance Practices

- Reduced frequency of maintenance

- Increased Mean Time Between Failures ( MTBF )

- Reduced Mean Time To Repair ( MTTR )

- Reduced cost of maintenance

- Extensive use of Net-worked data loggers as a maintenance tool and for fault diagnostic thereby making maintenance need based.

- Providing means with the Staff for performing their tasks effectively and efficiently.

Problems faced by Signalling on IR

• Multiple technology for same thing in one region making maintenance difficult.

• In adequate redundancy in the signalling system on high density routes making reliability low.

• Training of maintenance personnel in multiple technology.

• Large scale attrition of personnel.

Suggestions• Application of Modern Signaling & Telecom

systems can provide specific solutions for permitting more and more trains to be run by capacity enhancement measures and at higher levels of speed, with adequate safety level and at an optimum cost but choice of Technology to improve safety through reduced human dependence, intervention should be based on reliability,maintainability,cost,proveness and made suitable for Indian conditions.

• Training in adopting new technology should be given at centralized training institutes like IRISET by the vendor before its introduction on IR.

Suggetions continued -Industry, R&D Centres and Educational

Institutions to work along with Indian Railways for developing and delivering solutions.

-The evaluation of Rail operation-related personnel is a very delicate task if we bear in mind that what is at stake is the safety of a mode of public transport. Despite the technological improvements and the skill acquired through experience, it constitutes a preliminary condition for ensuring the reliability of the personnel directly related to safety.

“”””””- The diagnosis of aptitude for Rail personnel is, in fact,

susceptible to evolution over a period of time, affected not only by the sociological professional or technological environment, but also by an ageing of aptitudes which is not always compensated for by experience.

- The safety system in which humans are involved must be subject to a permanent preventative monitoring process on the part of instructors, doctors and psychologists.

- Human reliability in the Railway depends directly on the coherence of the multidisciplinary team in charge of the preventative monitoring of the aptitudes of the Rail employees in the performance of their duties and the tasks involved in their job.