Photos: North India’s winter delays trains despite fog safe devices

The presence of GPS-enabled fog safe devices on trains operating on the Northern Railways’ circuit has yet to make a major dent in weather related delays and consequently the experience of commuters. On Thursday, as New Delhi Railway station coped with dense fog, almost 100 trains ran up to 30 hours late with passengers spending the night on platforms.

Updated on: Jan 05, 2018 2:34 PM IST

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A blanket of dense fog enveloped Delhi on Thursday, delaying flight and train services. Although all trains of the Northern Railways are now equipped with a GPS-based Fogsafe device, which alerts locomotive pilots of upcoming landmarks, signal crossings and stations 500m in advance, a major dent in weather related delays, reschedules and cancellations is still awaited. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Those stranded huddled themselves in blankets and thick shawls, slept on benches or indulged in cards games to while away time as the New Delhi Railway stations’ platforms coped with almost 100 trains running up to 30 hours late. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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According to Northern Railway officials, at 5:30 pm Thursday, as many as 92 trains were running late while 19 stood cancelled and 44 were rescheduled because of fog. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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A Fogsafe device installed in a locomotive in New Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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A GPS device is seen attached to a locomotive in New Delhi. A railway official explained that while the device points out upcoming signals, it does not indicate whether the signal is green or red. Because of this the locomotive pilot may even have to stop the train, to confirm whether they can proceed, thereby causing delays. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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A locomotive driver demonstrates the use of the Fog Safe device on January 4, 2018. “On clear days, we run the trains at the sanctioned speed, which is around 100 kmph. When it is foggy, we do not go over 30-35 kmph,” said the pilot, illustrating how trains run at almost less than half their regular speeds, causing delays. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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The effects of these unpredictable delays were seen at the railway station, where many commuters had come in the previous night and had to wait for up to 19 hours for their train. Many had spent the night at the station, waiting for their trains. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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The GPS- based Fogsafe device has not been able to make a major dent in the number trains that are delayed, rescheduled and cancelled because of weather. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)