Railways successfully tests
anti-collision technology
A path-breaking technology to
avoid train collisions was tested
successfully between Navandgi and
Mantatti...
more... stations in Ranga Reddy
district on Tuesday morning.
The technology, based on a
combination of GPS and Radio
Frequency-enabled technology,
applies brakes without intervention
of the train pilots once it detects
another locomotive on the move or
stationary on the same track
avoiding collisions.
A host of railway officials including
Railway Board chairman Vinay
Mittal watched the successful trial
of the Train Collision Avoidance
System (T-CAS) in Ranga Reddy
district, about 150 km from
Hyderabad.
Two trains with some coaches
equipped with the T-CAS were run
in opposite directions on the same
track at a speed of 60 kmph. Both
the trains screeched to a halt at a
distance of about 200 metres, as
the tense officials watched the rare
spectacle of two locomotives
hurtling at each other. Smiles
broke out as the efficacy of the
new technology proved at least on
a trial basis.
The second trial was with a
stationary train and a moving train.
The officials stationed a train on
the tracks at Mantatti and made
the other one approach it at a
speed of 60 kmph. Interestingly,
the senior most railway officials
were sitting in the moving train
which approached the stationary
one it from behind. As the train
screeched to a halt, smiles and
handshakes were seen among the
visibly relieved officials.
The T-CAS was developed jointly by
the Research, Design & Standards
Organisation (RDSO) and a
Hyderabad-based private
organisation.
“It’s a path-breaking technology
and we would like to complete all
the trials within a year. The T-CAS
has more capabilities than the
technologies being used in many
advanced countries”, Mr. Mittal
said.
Director-General of RDSO
Ramachandran said the technology
with some limited options would be
introduced in some sections within
six months.
BY-LOCO Pilot Indian Railway
