With the winter setting in and the fog gripping the entire North Indian region, the Northern Railways have chalked out a detailed safety and operational plan to reduce passengers’ woes this season. A total of 350 trains, mostly bound to North and East Indian States, have been equipped with fog safety devices to avert any possible mishap due to dip in visibility. These include 250 electric locomotives and 100 diesel engines.
The Railway officials said a number of trains have to be short-terminated or cancelled to maintain smooth train operations.
“Though a short-lived phenomenon, foggy conditions pose a great challenge to the Railways, especially in Northern and Eastern regions of the country in terms of operations, profitability as well as
safety. In the Northern Railways, the Delhi-Ambala-Amritsar/Kalka section remains highly fog-prone — though by and large other routes on the network are also affected during the season,” said Northern Railway CPRO, Neeraj Sharma.
The Railways have installed fog-safe/fog-pass devices in locomotives for safe running of trains during foggy weather conditions. It has a GPS-based system, which shows the position of approaching signal through audio and visual indication. Its trial was started in April 2004 in Northern Railways
in order to keep the loco pilots alert.
Officials said highlighter grade luminous strips have been provided on signal arms to enhance visibility of signals to loco pilots.
“Meticulous cleaning of porcelain Over Head Electrification insulators is being ensured in polluted zones to avoid flashover during foggy weather conditions. Further, monitoring and upkeep of signalling systems are the prime focus at this time. The Railways have also overhauled its safety machinery to ensure minimum failure of its equipment and working systems,” Sharma said.
Officials said the Railways have already announced cancellation of 13 pairs of trains, partially cancelled three of them and diverted two pairs.
In addition to this, trained enquiry staff will be deployed during this period along with opening of two more additional counters at New Delhi and one each at Old Delhi, Anand Vihar and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations on need basis.