Question : OPERATION OF TRAINS IN FOGGY CONDITIONS .

(a) whether the Railways have taken adequate steps to gear up for foggy conditions in winters including installing detonators and other advanced devices to prevent accidents and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of trains cancelled/delayed due to foggy conditions during the last three years and current year;

(c) the number of passengers affected due to cancellation of trains and the alternate arrangements including food made by the Government for such passengers; and

(d) the steps taken by the Railways to introduce modern technologies in consultation with Meteorological Department of India including deployment of warning system at railway stations on the lines of airports in order to check delays and accidents in operation of train under foggy conditions?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1123 BY SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA, SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI, DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHRI RAMA KISHORE SINGH, SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR, SHRI PREM DAS RAI, DR. SANJAY JAISWAL, SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH AND SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.03.2015 REGARDING OPERATION OF TRAINS IN FOGGY CONDITIONS

(a): Yes, Madam. Guidelines are already in place instructing Zonal Railways to take action during foggy season to deal with train operations as under:-

(i) To provide safeguard in train operation in Automatic Block System during foggy weather by restricting the number of trains to two between two stations.

(ii) Reduce the speed of train.

(iii) Deputing additional staff to alert the Loco Pilot through placement of detonators before the First Stop signal.

(iv) Improving the visibility of signals.

(v) Loco Pilot to take precautions, be vigilant and alert and to observe Special Rules and instructions regarding speed limits under foggy conditions.

Technological options are being pursued by Indian Railways for prevention of accidents during conditions of poor visibility by installing notably Fog Safe Device, which is a Global Positioning System (GPS) based device installed to assist the Loco Pilot during poor visibility condition. Currently, a total of 1381 Fog Safe Devices are under trial on Northern, North Eastern and North Western Railways in fog prone areas. In addition, Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) are also under various stages of trial.

(b): The number of Mail/Express trains delayed/cancelled during the last three and current year are as under:-

 Number of Mail/Express trains delayed due to bad weather/fog 2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	(Upto 23.02.15) 8154	10560	10017	12482 Number of Mail/Express trains cancelled due to foggy weather 2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	(Upto 23.02.15) 14 pairs	14 pairs	10 pairs	27 pairs