Indian Railways Deploys 20,000 Devices To Prevent Disruptions Due To Fog

The fog pass device is suitable for train speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour and has a built-in rechargeable battery that can provide backup for 18 hours. The fog pass weighs around 1.5 kg.

Fog pass devices would help trains navigate through poor visibility conditions.

Source : PTI

Guwahati: The Indian Railways has commissioned nearly 20,000 devices to ensure fewer disruptions due to fog during winters. A large number of trains are hit due to the fog and smog in the northern parts of India. To tackle this problem, Indian Railways has provisioned a total of 19,742 fog pass devices. The initiative marks a crucial step in improving the reliability of train services, reducing delays, and enhancing overall passenger safety.

The fog pass device is a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based navigation instrument that helps the loco pilot of a train to navigate during dense fog conditions. It provides real-time information onboard over display as well as voice guidance to the loco pilots regarding the location of fixed landmarks, such as signals, level crossing gates (both manned and unmanned), permanent speed restrictions, and neutral sections, among others. It displays approach indications of the next three fixed landmarks in geographical order accompanied by a voice message approximately 500 metres on approach, Assam’s Guwahati-based Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway), Sabyasachi De stated in a press release.

The Indian Railways has provisioned as many as 4,491 such fog pass devices under the jurisdiction of the Northern Railway, the highest among all the zonal railways, followed by South Eastern Railway (2,955), East Central Railway (1,891), North Eastern Railway (1,762), North Central Railway (1,289), South Central Railway (1,120), Northeast Frontier Railway (1,101), West Central Railway (1,046), Eastern Railway (1,103), South East Central Railway (997), North Western Railway (992), Central Railway (560), East Coast Railway (375) and South Western Railway (60), CPRO De stated in the release.

Explaining the general features of the fog pass device, De said that it is suitable for all types of sections like single line, double line, electrified as well as non-electrified sections. It can be fixed on all types of electric and diesel locomotives, Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMUs) and Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs).

It is suitable for train speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour and has a built-in rechargeable battery that can provide backup for 18 hours. The fog pass is portable, weighing around 1.5 kilograms (including battery), De said.

De further stated that the loco pilot can carry the device easily with him to the train as he starts his shift. The device can be easily placed on the cab desk of the locomotive as it is a standalone system and is unaffected by adverse weather conditions like fog or rain.