RAILWAY SAFETY

Year to 1-4-12 1-4-13 1-4-14 1-4-15 1-4-16 1-4-17
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Accidents 131 120 117 131 106 100
- Fire 4 9 7 6 0 1
- Collisions 9 6 4 5 3 5
- Derailment 55 48 52 60 64 78
- LC 61 58 51 56 35 19
at UMLC 54 53 47 50 29 —

Total LC 31,842 31,254 30,348 29,487 28,607 27,181
Unmanned 13,530 12,582 11,563 10,440 9,340 7,701
Manned 18,361 18,672 18,785 19,047 19,267 19,480
- interlocked 9978 10513 10776

ROB in yr 226 236 210 185 194
RUB in yr 653 648 905 923 830

Track renewal Route Km Track renewal Route Km
09 3841 63273 13 3296 65436
10 3840 63974 14 2885 65805
11 3465 64460 15 2424 66030
12 3300 64460 16 2794 66687

Safety measures
1. Safety plans and safety audits (internal & inter-zonal).
2. Enhanced training, incl refreshers, of front-line staff, e.g. drivers, guards.
3. Detection of flaws.
4. Mechanisation for quality control.
5. Introduction of new technology, e.g. crash survivable coaches.

Signalling
6. Interlocked level crossing gates with road traffic signals.
7. Advanced signalling, with electronic feedback loops, at rail stations.
8. BPAC is automatic verification of train arrivals (station), to centre.
9. Automatic block signalling - maintains a safe gap between trains.
10. TPWS - automatic train protection, corrects for driver errors at signals. Recently approved for broader implementation on busy routes.
11. TCAS (in testing) - a combination of automatic train protection (for dangerous signal passes) and block signalling (to separate trains, maintain optimal gap). Developed indigenously, is in extended field trials and systems validation review.

TRACK
12. Concrete sleeper, 60kg rail spec, long welded rails, flash butt welding, ultrasound flaw detection (digital) for weakness in old rail, and quality control of new rail; track displacements detected by electronic scans.
13. Mechanised tie tamping, ballast cleaning and rail grinding, etc.

COACHES
14. Central buffer coupler - new versions have an anti-climb effect that reduces casualties in crashes, and are powerful shock absorbers for a jerk-free ride. All ICF coaches incl Rajdhani, Shatabdi, mail coaches will be retrofitted (Rs 5 lakh each).
15. Complete switch-over from ICF design to LHB or its variants. E.g. crash-worthy double-decker LHB introduced. LHB are crush resistant, have shorter stopping distance, can negotiate curves faster, have lower maintenance and last longer (see comments).
16. Air spring suspension to maintain constant height (of door vs platform).
17. Automatic entrance door for suburban and air-conditioned mainline coaches. Could be made standard throughout, to stop falls-in-transit. Air cooling plus ventilation will be a necessity in this case.

FIRE SAFETY
18. Fire detectors (e.g. smoke detectors), extinguishers (powder type), water mist; fire retardant materials as per European specifications; electrical and LPG fittings for periodic testing & safe practice norms.

OTHERS
19. Bridge monitoring and Bridge Management System; patrolling of a sensitive track. Level crossing measures. Accident reviews.

NEAR ZERO FATALITIES by 2019
20. Rs 120,000 crore safety fund with contribution from Central exchequer.
21. Innovative funding like an annuity, that reduces initial costs.
22. Eliminate all unmanned level crossings on broad gauge. All other UMLC tackled with gauge conversion.
23. Upgrade existing rolling stock to best in class crash-worthy units (see 14-18 above).
24. Expedite overdue track renewal of 5100 km and stop future buildup.
25. Implement TCAS/TPWS technology across the high-density network (HDN).
26. Shortlist technology for detecting broken rail ASAP, and implement on HDN.
27. TRINETRA is the technology to facilitate movement in fog.
28. Flood warning system at major bridges & flood-prone areas. Information sent by SMS and integrated into signals.
29. Place monitoring devices on rolling stock and monitor its condition online.
30. Encourage a culture of reporting incidents (incl near misses), digital reporting & tracking of all accidents; and route cause investigation/ analysis of all track accidents by dedicated teams with external expertise.

RAILWAY BOARD- Safety and Security (2016-17)
Railways Vision & Plans 2017-19