Train tracking system on trial to check mishaps

According to a Railway Board official, the GPS device which will cost about Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh each would be fitted in about 100 trains on a trial basis. The greatest advantage of the device would be prevention of any collision or mishaps on tracks as it would give details about train movement to the nearest railway control room, he said, adding the railways intends to implement it successfully by 2013 end across the country.

Under the new system, passengers can easily know exact location of trains as the CRIS is working to integrate the GPS application with Google maps. Besides, ISRO's INSAT-3C satellite would also provide assistance in locating train position, a Board official said, adding success of the GPS-based system could also help the railways in running high speed trains.

According to sources, the railways had earlier introduced the 'real train information system' ( RTIS) in the first phase. It was based on the satellite imaging for rail navigation. However, it proved that information being transmitted under this system about train movement was not correct, sources said.

Thus, the railways has decided to launch the new system to fulfill the needs of passengers across the country. "Much would depend on the success and efficacy of the new device which is being taken up under a pilot project of the railways," a Board official said, adding the new system is completely based on ultra high frequency (UHF) communication system.

According to sources, the Indian Army, has of late, shifted to this device to keep a close vigil on the Navy warship and Coast Guard vessels in the country to get accurate information about movement of ships in the sea. Besides, the new system has been adopted in other wings of the Army to assist Navy's submarines, torpedoes, ground-based vehicles, ships and aircraft under any emergency, sources said.

According to East Central Railway (ECR) CPRO Neeraj Ambastha, the new technology would prove to be a boon for the railways during foggy weather condition. The Delhi-Patna-Howrah mainline route is the most vulnerable during winter as visibility becomes zero due to dense fog. Besides, passengers would get the exact information about train movement, particularly long-distance mail and express trains, during foggy weather condition, he said.