Question : Cancellation-Delay of Trains

(a) whether the Government is aware that most of the time trains are delayed/ cancelled due to fog and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Railways has installed fog safety devices to solve these problems and if so, the number of trains in which fog safety devices have been installed so far, zone-wise;

(c) the extent to which this device helps to run the train in dense fog along with the number of trains proposed to be equipped with such device in near future, zone-wise; and

(d) the other measures being taken by the Government for safety of passengers and trains?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 500 BY SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV, SHRI L.R. SHIVARAME GOWDA AND SHRIMATI ANJU BALA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.02.2019 REGARDING CANCELLATION/DELAY OF TRAINS

(a) Yes, Madam. A large number of trains are affected every year during foggy weather in the winter months in Northern parts of the country.
(b) and (c): Fog Pass Device- A Global Positioning System (GPS) based hand held portable device, which is not installed on a locomotive as such, is given to Loco Pilots in fog affected sections. It serves as an aid for the crew during foggy weather through audio visual alarm, whenever any landmark comes within the Geo-fence range. Location of stations, warning boards, signals, level crossing gates and Whistle for Level crossing (W/L) boards in the section is fed in the equipment. It displays speed of the locomotive, distance and time to reach landmarks. 6940 nos. Fog Pass Devices have been procured and provided to Zonal Railways so far. Details of these Fog Pass Devices procured and provided to Zonal Railways are as under:
RLY ECR NR NCR NER NFR NWR Total
No. of Devices 877 2648 537 975 1101 802 6940

6000 nos. more Fog PASS Devices have been sanctioned and included in Pink Book 2018-19. Purchase order for these 6000 units has already been issued in August, 2018, out of which 2618 units have been supplied to Zonal Railways.
(d) Following measures are being taken for safety of passengers and trains:
(i) Extensive footplate inspections by Officers and Supervisors, particularly during night hours are being ensured.
(ii) There are directives for Loco Pilot that during fog, when Loco pilot feels that visibility is restricted due to fog, he shall run at a speed at which he can control the train so as to be prepared to stop short of any obstruction.
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