Automated lighting systems at rly stations to save energy

The Delhi division of Northern Railway is installing automated lighting systems at some of its bigger stations to reduce power consumption at platforms by 50%. Rajat Arora reports.

The Delhi division of Northern Railway is installing automated lighting systems at some of its bigger stations to reduce power consumption at platforms by 50%.

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The system, already being tested at Hazrat Nizamuddin and Faridabad railway stations, is connected to the home signals of the platform. Whenever a train leaves a station, 70% lights at the platforms go off and the lights are switched back on automatically when a train approaches the platform.

"The automated lighting system is being tested at platform number one of Hazrat Nizamuddin and Faridabad stations and we have plans to extend it at the New Delhi, Old Delhi, Delhi cantonment, Sarai Rohilla and other big stations of NCR as well. This will reduce our energy consumption as it stops unnecessary power consumption," said Anurag Sachan, divisional railway manager (Delhi), northern railway.

The daily power demand at New Delhi station is around 4 MW, whereas at Old Delhi, Delhi Cantonment and Hazrat Nizamuddin, it is around 1.5 MW each. The railway hopes that the automated lighting system will solve its power crisis.

"We can work efficiently with only around 30% of all lights we have at stations and waiting rooms. It is only when the passengers board or de-board a train that high intensity lights are needed," said a senior railway officer.