Flood-resistant signalling systems for CR, WR soon

The Central and Western railway signalling systems are all set to get a technological overhaul.

The Central and Western railway signalling systems are all set to get a technological overhaul.

HT Image

Hopefully, by March, the existing signalling system between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Thane will be replaced by 1,500 digital axle counters.

The new signalling system will be especially useful during the monsoon as the current system malfunctions whenever the tracks get flooded.

Even otherwise, the upgraded signalling system will help minimise the scope of signalling errors, and thereby, accidents.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) will be calling for tenders for this soon. "We will be first installing these digital axle counters on the stretch upto Thane.

There are already 100 digital axle counters placed, but they are insufficient," said a senior MRVC official on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The digital axle counters are useful especially during the monsoon when the current signals go on the blink after the wires get submerged under water.

And, under normal conditions, signals fail when there is improper interception of electric supply between the tracks and the signal.

This kind of signal failure stops the trains from passing and delays its progress until the error can be rectified.

Digital axle counters on the other hand are not affected by rain or submerged tracks, hence train delays due to malfunctioning signals will be down to a bare minimum.

"The digital axle device counts the train axles that pass over any stretch. Once all the axles of the train have passed, it sends a signal to the control room which then indicates the next train behind it," a senior railway official explained.

This system is being implemented on the Central line at a cost of around Rs 65 crore.

Similar devices will be fitted on the Western line in the next phase.

The WR recently called tenders as it wants to place digital axle counters at Marine Lines and Charni Road stations that are considered flood-prone.