MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, Dec 3: Due to the possibility of fog during the winter season, the East Central Railway is taking many efforts to protect train operations so that delays are avoided and passengers do not suffer.
“Fog safe devices have been installed in the locomotives for this purpose. Provision of fog safe devices has been made for loco pilots of 100% Mail/Express and Passenger trains of East Central Railway for smooth running of trains,” said Rajesh Kumar, chief public relations officer of EC railways.
A fog safe device is a GPS based device which alerts the Loco Pilot of the oncoming signal by which they control the speed of the trains. Apart from this, fog men are also being deployed who will monitor the signal position on the railway line during fog.
Railway staff are patrolling continuously under the supervision of senior officials in order to prevent rail fracture and identify it as soon as possible. On the one hand, this will improve safety, and on the other, it will aid in keeping timeliness in the face of fog. Employees on line patrol will have access to GPS as well, allowing them to safeguard themselves.
In order to increase the visibility of the signals, Signal Sighting Boards, Fog Signal Posts, Lifting Barriers of overly busy level crossings etc. have been made bright by painting them in a special color black and yellow.
Before the arrival of the signal, the railway track is marked with white line so that the loco pilot becomes more alert about the signal in foggy weather. A special identification mark “Sigma Shapes” is being provided before the stop signal to identify the stop signals in dense fog so that the driver can get the information about the stop signal easily.
Loco pilots will be given a kilometre chart of each station’s ‘First Stop Signal Location,’ which will allow them to calculate at what distance the train will be stopped next and, as a result, manage the train’s pace. Continuous counselling is also provided by safety consultants to railway staff directly involved in train operation in order to inform them about these procedures to be followed for successful train operation in the winter.
All station masters and loco pilots have been directed to immediately inform the control room in case of mist and check the visibility with VTO (Visibility Test Object). In case of obstruction of visibility, the loco pilot shall control the speed of the train depending upon the brake power, load and visibility conditions of the train.
Trains are allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour by the East Central Railway, but loco pilots have been warned not to exceed 75 kilometres per hour in the event of fog. The gateman stationed at the level crossing gate, as well as the general public, can obtain information about the train’s passing, allowing the train’s driver to horn continuously long before the level crossing gate, indicating that the train is going to pass through.
