Indian government has decided to install new safety technology in its trains to detect and avert mishaps in order to make journey by trains safe.

New Delhi, Oct 4/Nationalturk – In order to avoid train accidents and loss of precious lives in these mishaps, Indian government has decided to install new safety technology in its trains to detect and avert mishaps.

“India will adopt first ever unique modern technology for maintenance of its passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives,” a senior official of Indian railways said.

He said the new maintenance technique, which uses acoustic method of diagnostics, is known as Acoustic Bearing Detectors (ABD) and Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD). When used in combination together, they are known as Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock (OMRS) systems”.

“This technique involves placing arrays of microphones and sensors that record the audible noise and forces generated by running coaches, wagons and locomotives. Conventional method to maintain passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives is to physically examine when these are in stationary condition at the maintenance depots,” the official said.

‘Faults in Rolling Stock can be detected on run’

The official said under the new technique, faults in the Rolling stock can be detected while on run. “It is a big advantage as it will make maintenance faster reducing turn-around time for Rolling stocks thereby ensuring availability of high number of wagons/coaches etc. for operation.”

The official said OMRS equipment is very sensitive and accurate and is often able to indicate the specific sub-component that is not behaving the way it should and therefore causing abnormal noise. “This can be monitored remotely using mobile communication facilities. In the conventional method, it is nearly impossible to detect this problem unless major assemblies are completely dismantled and checked in the maintenance depot.”

He said WILD system has been installed in 15 locations across the country in the initial phase and these have also detected faulty vehicles that have caused higher than normal impact force on the trains. “These 15 locations are; Ajni, Asansol, Mughal Sarai-I, Mughal Sarai – II, Barwadih, Vishakhapatnam, Arakkonam, Gunakal, Mahalimarup, Dongargarh, Bilai, Hospet, Bina, Itarsi and New Katni.”

‘Fire and smoke detection system in trains’

Sources said Indian railways will install fire and smoke detection system on air-conditioned coaches. The system is capable for checking and giving alarm to passenger during initial stages of fire, thereby giving valuable time for shifting to safe areas and evacuation.

A senior Indian railway official said the automatic fire and smoke detection system as tried out is based on Very Early Warning Smoke Detection System (VEWSD) strategy to detect smoke or fire at incipient stage of smoke, fire through continuous multipoint sampling and analysis of coach environment. “The system is suitable for controlled environment i.e. for AC coaches only.”

Sources said India also plans to install anti-collision devices (ACDs), train protection warning systems (TPWS) and train collision avoidance system (T-CAS) in trains to avoid mishaps.

Scores of people lose their lives in train accidents in India every year.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

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