Railways develops new system to prevent train accident

New Delhi: Strengthening the safety infrastructure, Railways has developed a new system to prevent train accidents. The new system, Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), is a fusion of Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) and Anti-Collision Device (ACD). "Automatic braking system will be applied if two trains come closer on a same track with the TCAS in force," said Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal.

TPWS and ACD are already operational on a trial basis on selected routes. As a pilot project, TPWS has been provided on Chennai suburban section and another pilot project is in progress on Nizamuddin-Agra section. TPWS is also being provided on Dum Dum-New Garia section of Kolkata Metro. As far as ACD, developed by Konkan Railway, is concerned, the system is operational as a pilot project on 1736 km in Northeast Frontier Railway.

"However, ACD witnessed operational problems in Southern Railway. So it can be extended only after resolving those problems," Mittal said. "Based upon experience gained from ACD and TPWS systems, we have now taken up development of TCAS. TCAS is a fusion of functionalities of TPWS and ACD and prevent signal passing at danger as well as collisions," he said.

The new system, Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), is a fusion of Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) and Anti-Collision Device (ACD).

Six firms have been shortlisted for developing the system. One of the firm has developed the prototype which shall undergo field trials shortly in South Central Railway.

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