Title - Focus on reducing fog-related delays, improving safety

The onset of winter brings a different set of worries for Northern Railway. Fog often causes delays and disrupts train schedules. To counter this and ensure safety of passengers, Northern Railway has installed a modified Train Protection Warning System in 17 locomotives with E-70 brake system and fitted emergency stop buttons in 107 locomotives.

“The safety and convenience of passengers is paramount. Northern Railway has chalked out a detailed safety and operational plan to gear up to the challenge of fog through a multi-pronged strategy. Safety precautions through drives, training programmes of train crew and safety training of staff have been undertaken to ensure safety (of passengers),” Northern Railway general manager V K Gupta said.

In order to update passengers in case of a delay, charting of trains will be fully computerised, officials said.

To control rail traffic during fog, Railways has cancelled 13 trains, partially cancelled two and diverted two more.

These trains’ schedules have been modified from January 1 to February 17.

“The plotting of trains in the National Train Enquiry System will be centrally controlled. So any fog-related delay can be updated in the system. The same will be communicated to the railway enquiry (139), to impart accurate information to passengers,” Northern Railway spokesperson Neeraj Sharma said.

Officials said 1,000 fogmen and 3,500 patrolmen will be on duty during winters to survey tracks.

The number of locomotive pilots will be doubled to counter delay in train operations.

Railways will open additional counters for reservation — two in New Delhi and one each at Delhi Jn, Anand Vihar and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Additional PRS counters will be opened to facilitate passengers seeking refunds if trains are delayed by over three hours or cancelled.

Bracing for it

13 trains cancelled

2 partially cancelled

2 diverted

1,000 fogmen to survey tracks

3,500 patrolmen also on survey duty

17 locomotives to get modified safety system

107 locomotives to get emergency stop button