Date of Post: 24 Sep, 2018

Vadodara: The Indian Railways will install a modern signalling system on 850km section between Mathura and Vadodara at an estimated cost of about Rs 2,000 crore.

The proposal to install an automatic train protection (ATP) system – the state-of-the-art European Train Controlling System (ETCS) Level-II – is being firmed up and will shortly be sent for cabinet approval, sources said.

More Information:

• The system prevents the collision of two trains on the same track and also updates loco pilots on the condition of signals ahead even when the visibility is poor due to fog or other reasons.
• According to the Railways, once the Mathura-Vadodara section becomes operational, ETCS Level-II will be considered for extension on other sections, depending upon its performance.
• Earlier, the Railways had decided to go for complete automation, including the ETCS level-II, on its entire 60,000 km broad gauge network at an estimated cost of Rs 78,000 crore.
• However, the proposal did not find favour with the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) due to the high cost and also for the fact that the new system was untested in Indian conditions.
• In April, the PMO asked the Indian Railways to carry out extensive trials in a busy section to ascertain its efficacy and then decide on the entire network.
• Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has been vocal in his support of the idea since the automation of the signalling system aims to enhance safety and speed up train movement in a congested network.
• In fact, he was in favour of giving the entire contract to one player so as to gain a price advantage on economies of scale.
• The ETCS Level-II proposal was lying idle for a while after the PMO`s suggestion in April to opt for the system along a limited section before going full hog.

To know more about recent developments of  Railways-

18 Sep, 2018 : Plasser India to Set Up 2nd Facility at Vadodara at Rs 400 Crore by March 2019

18 Sep, 2018 : Indian Railways Eliminates Unmanned Level Crossings at High-Speed and All Suburban Routes

16 Sep, 2018 : First BHEL-built 6,000 HP Electric locomotive (Type WAG-9H) flagged-off

Author:

Deepak Kumar is a part of the content team of Rail Analysis India as a writer and analyst .
His focus is on new initiatives on the Railway Sector of India .
Please reach us at editor@railanalysis.com for more information .