<p>"The trial by the Konkan Railway jointly with the RDSO and Southern Railway started yesterday in the 44 km Chennai-Arrakonam section of Southern Railway," said Ajay Bhat, Executive Director of Konkan Railway, here.<br /><br />The first set of trials was conducted in September- October this year at the busiest Chennai suburban section.<br /><br />Evaluation of the first set of trials had led to modifications and corrections in several software and hardware parameters.<br /><br />"Devices with modifications are now being tried out in the electrified and multiple-line automatic signalling section in the Chennai-Arrakonam section," Bhat said, adding "the purpose of the ACD is to reduce human error and enhance safety in train operations."<br /><br />Currently Indian Railways have a total of 667 locomotives out of 7,000 which are equipped with ACD system. The system is operational in Konkan Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).<br /><br />"The trial observation will be submitted by the RDSO to the Railway Board in January and based on the report the Board will decide on ACD installation in other areas," he said.<br /><br />Anti-Collision Device is an indigenous concept evolved by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and is based on GPS and radio frequency system.<br /><br />"The devices are being installed on locomotives of trains and at stations as non-signalling system with no manual interventions to activate braking if collision like situations are detected," he said.<br /><br />The ACD system is also required to be installed at the level crossings to make the crossing accident free zone.<br /><br />Explaining the functioning of ACD, Bhat said the system is fool-proof and it cost about Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakh per km route for installing the devices which are fully dependable and do not act on spurious signals.<br /><br />The trials are aimed at providing a fair opportunity for success of the indigenous technology.<br /><br />Earlier, ACD was put on in-service trials in 2006 as a pilot project on the Northeast Frontier Railway which is predominantly a non-electrified single line territory. Based on experience gained there, specifications of the ACD have had to be revised to improve efficacy, reliability and availability.<br /><br />The current phase of trials in Southern Railway with the modified ACD on the basis of NFR experience is on the multiple electrified lines, including automatic block sections which is available on Chennai-Arrakonam section.<br /><br />Once the trials are completed and Railways are assured of the capability of the device to provide a dependable anti collision mechanism, it will be implemented in three Railway Zones, namely Southern, South Central and South Western Railways.</p>
<p>"The trial by the Konkan Railway jointly with the RDSO and Southern Railway started yesterday in the 44 km Chennai-Arrakonam section of Southern Railway," said Ajay Bhat, Executive Director of Konkan Railway, here.<br /><br />The first set of trials was conducted in September- October this year at the busiest Chennai suburban section.<br /><br />Evaluation of the first set of trials had led to modifications and corrections in several software and hardware parameters.<br /><br />"Devices with modifications are now being tried out in the electrified and multiple-line automatic signalling section in the Chennai-Arrakonam section," Bhat said, adding "the purpose of the ACD is to reduce human error and enhance safety in train operations."<br /><br />Currently Indian Railways have a total of 667 locomotives out of 7,000 which are equipped with ACD system. The system is operational in Konkan Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).<br /><br />"The trial observation will be submitted by the RDSO to the Railway Board in January and based on the report the Board will decide on ACD installation in other areas," he said.<br /><br />Anti-Collision Device is an indigenous concept evolved by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and is based on GPS and radio frequency system.<br /><br />"The devices are being installed on locomotives of trains and at stations as non-signalling system with no manual interventions to activate braking if collision like situations are detected," he said.<br /><br />The ACD system is also required to be installed at the level crossings to make the crossing accident free zone.<br /><br />Explaining the functioning of ACD, Bhat said the system is fool-proof and it cost about Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakh per km route for installing the devices which are fully dependable and do not act on spurious signals.<br /><br />The trials are aimed at providing a fair opportunity for success of the indigenous technology.<br /><br />Earlier, ACD was put on in-service trials in 2006 as a pilot project on the Northeast Frontier Railway which is predominantly a non-electrified single line territory. Based on experience gained there, specifications of the ACD have had to be revised to improve efficacy, reliability and availability.<br /><br />The current phase of trials in Southern Railway with the modified ACD on the basis of NFR experience is on the multiple electrified lines, including automatic block sections which is available on Chennai-Arrakonam section.<br /><br />Once the trials are completed and Railways are assured of the capability of the device to provide a dependable anti collision mechanism, it will be implemented in three Railway Zones, namely Southern, South Central and South Western Railways.</p>