(a) whether the Railways Safety Commissioner has refused to give green signal for increasing the speed of some Express trains as reported in the ‘Times of India’ dated April 3, 2005;
(b) if so, whether the Railway tracks and signalling system are not found suitable to run high speed trains;
(c) if so, the reasons for not upgrading the tracks and signalling system; and
(d) the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Railways in this regard?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI LALU PRASAD )
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 474 BY DR. M. JAGANNATH AND SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.04.2005 REGARDING INCREASE IN SPEED OF TRAINS.
(a): Yes, Sir. The news item pertains to introduction of Shatabdi Express at 150 KMPH on New Delhi-Agra Cantt section. The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) has not so far cleared the running of train at 150 KMPH speed on New Delhi-Agra Cantt section. The CCRS has forwarded the applications for permission to run the said train of Northern Railway and North Central Railway, with certain observations, to Railway Board. These are under consideration of the Railway Board, who have to take a final decision in the matter.
(b): No, Sir. The track and signalling system available on New Delhi-Agra Cantt. section, is adequate to run such a train.
(c): Does not arise.
(d): No corrective measures are required for track and signalling system. However, CCRS has drawn attention to issues like provision of fencing throughout to prevent cattle straying on to track, train protection and warning system as an additional measure to prevent a driver passing signal at danger, provision of frills on lifting barrier at level crossing gates as an additional measure to prevent entry of road users in a closed gate, Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) of rails by SPURT car in addition to manual testing etc.
Action has been taken to satisfactorily address all these issues, before the train is run. The observations made by CCRS shall be kept in view while taking a final decision in the matter.