Metro to run safer with implementation of TPWS
Kolkata- Metro trains will run more safely from July onwards as the Railway Board has planned to implement Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS).
The system will alert the motorman of metro train and at times, it will even apply brakes if there is a possibility of danger signal being overshot or the train passes a caution light at a higher speed than expected.
Following the implementation of TPWS, the frequency of trains will be reduced from five to four minutes said officials. They said that the number of accidents due to human errors would be decreased completely with this new method. More frequent service of metro trains is needed in cities.
An official estimates that if trains start running at four-minute or even three-minute intervals, the distance between two trains will be reduced than the prevailing distance. And in case, if a train stands longer than scheduled at any station, then the problem begins. So it is mandatory that adequate measures have to be in place to warn the motorman of the train behind. Even if the motorman fails to apply brakes, the TPWS can stop automatically.
As of now, the major hindrance is the shortfall of rakes. But by June, the Metro will get its full complement of 13 AC rakes which were ordered from Chennai. Several old conventional rakes which are more than two decades old have to be replaced. And several more rakes have to undergo mid-life rehabilitation if they are to remain in service for another five years.
The Railway Board is not likely to order for the 14 rakes in the second phase of Kolkata Metro. So it seems that the four-minute services will take more time to be initiated.
Meanwhile, Konkan Railway has developed state-of-the-art coach washing plant, which has been installed at Noapara.
However, initiating of TPWS is a good measure in terms of safety of metro train. Recently a Railway Board member visited Kolkata Metro system and expressed his satisfaction about the Metro project and the plant.
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