Electronic interlocking at more rail stations

Electronic interlocking at more rail stations

Railways will introduce microprocessor-based electronic interlocking in more railway stations in the State to improve safety and punctuality of trains and handle the increasing rail traffic.

The existing relay-based system is being replaced with the modern microprocessor-based electronic interlocking to ensure safe and uninterrupted passage of trains.

Installing the facility in wayside stations will cost Railways Rs.1.5 crore, and in big stations such as Ernakulam Junction, the cost will be Rs.2 crore.

Better reliability, less maintenance, easy restoration in case of snags, and less space for installation are the factors that are leading Railways to replace the relay-based system, officials in the operating wing told The Hindu .

The change has been already made at Chepad, Haripad, Piravom Road, Guruvayur, and Ernakulam Town under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.

In 2015-16, the electronic interlocking system will be introduced at Ernakulam Junction, Angamaly, Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara, Thiruvalla, and Ambalappuzha.

With this, the Station Master can alter the points and clear signals using the mouse and viewing the Visual Display Unit (VDU). At Chepad and Haripad stations, the VDU is yet to be provided. At the busy Ernakulam Junction, the authorities will provide two VDUs.

Data Logger, a microprocessor-based system, is already in place at the divisional headquarters at Thycaud in the capital. Every action of the Station Master with regard to operation of signal knobs is recorded and transferred instantly to the central server. All signal operations and movement of trains can be seen live at the control room of the divisional office. Alerts are provided on the mobile phone of top officials when a loco pilot jumps a signal, or when a wrong signal is given to a train.

Printouts can be taken out at the divisional office and at major railway stations such as Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kottayam, and Ernakulam which are linked to the Data Logger.

Source :The Hindu