Question : BULLET PROOF ENGINES

(a) whether the Railways have decided to run goods trains with bullet proof engines in terror-hit areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which this move will help the Railways in transporting goods including essential commodities, to terror-hit areas of the country;

(c) whether the guard cabin has not been made bullet proof and is only provided with sandbags; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Railways to provide security to guard as has been planned for driver of a train ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (DR. R. VELU )

(a) & (b) : Running of goods train with bullet proof locomotives is being done selectively based on threat perception. In this process, eight MG diesel locomotives of Northeast Frontier Railway have been modified and provided with bullet proof cab. It is planned to modify further 29 metre gauge diesel locomotives in a phased manner. This is intended as a confidence building measure for engine crew.

(c) & (d) : At present there is no proposal to make guard cabin as bullet proof. Wherever required, armed police personnel travel in the brake van for the security of guard and train.