Title - Locomotive drivers given power steer at their own speed in fog - The Economic Times

KOLKATA: In view of safety of the travelling passengers, instructions have been given to the loco pilots of all trains to take certain precautions during fog. When the loco pilot in his judgment feels that visibility is restricted due to fog, he has been given the authority to run at a speed in which he feels that he can control the train or stop the train whenever required without taking any risk. This speed shall in any case not to be more than 60 kmph. The loco pilots have also been advised to whistle frequently to warn the nearby gateman and road users of approaching train.

Despite losing punctuality, the loco pilots and guards have been instructed to ensure that they should put the safety of the passengers at the top and should run trains at such reduced speed in foggy weather in which they feel confident and comfortable, even if it means loss of punctuality to the train.

In view of the dense fog during night and early morning in the various sections of South Eastern Railway, passengers are facing hardship due to late running of trains as drivers have authority to regulate train speed depending on visibility conditions for the safety of passengers and train movement. Several precautions have been taken regarding train running during the current winter season in areas prone to be affected by fog.

It has been seen that of late several sections in all the four divisions of South Eastern Railway are affected by fog. Due to fog the visibility of the loco pilot is severely reduced and they are not in a position to run trains at normal speed.

In areas prone to dense fog, luminous and fluroscent strips have been painted in OHE(Overhead equipment) mast before an approaching "Stop Signal" to warn the loco pilot that the train is approaching a stop signal. The provision of this device has been of great help to the loco pilots who now can spot these luminous strips even during fog and get extra careful of the aspect of the approaching signal.

The railway staff posted at stations, cabins and gates have also been instructed to place detonators whenever there is thick fog to warn the loco pilots according to laid down rules & regulations. Guards have been advised to use flasher lamps during day time also during fog.

The General Manager, South Eastern Railway, A KVerma has given instructions to accord highest priority for safe train running during foggy weather. The total number of long distance mail/express trains which has lost punctuality on account of dense fog in South Eastern Railway has been 118 in December, 2012 alone. In the same period last year 2011, the total number of trains which lost punctuality was only 44. Similarly 23 passenger trains and 10 EMU locals also lost punctuality on account of fog in December 2012. The major sections where there has been thick fog in this season have been (i) Howrah-Kharagpur (ii) Kharagpur-Bhadrak (iii) Kharagpur-Tatanagar and (iv) Midnapur-Adra sections.