Southern Railway revamps its signal infra to increase train speed

Southern Railway is revamping its signal system by extending the distance between lights to boost train speed and offer additional braking distance for trains.

As part of the project, double distance signals will be placed at Jolarpettai-Erode, Erode-Podanur, and Podanur-Shoranur, allowing trains to go at 160 km/h.

If this proves to be a success, development on other routes will begin. By renewing rails and automating signals, speed has already been boosted to 110kmph on several portions of the western and southern routes from Chennai. The next phase is to increase the signal distance.

B Guganesan, Southern Railway's chief public relations officer, told the media that with the proposed increase in speed and haulage capacity of passenger and goods trains, the existing signal distance is not sufficient, and it brings out the increase in braking distances requirement for some of the loads and speeds.

It was critical to have a second distant signal in such situations. In the event of too much gap between succeeding signals, the loco pilot would not forget the aspect of the signal they have picked up and would be able to steer the train with appropriate braking distance.

Railways had spent Rs 9.43 crore on double distance signalling on the western line from Chennai.

According to a proposal filed to the Railway Board for approval, similar signal work would be carried out over 757 route km for Rs 117.17 crore.

The new signalling would help trains operate quicker. The routes are being prepared because the railroads want to improve train speed in the upcoming years when air-conditioned trains will be used more on express train lines.

The move is also motivated by the railway board's announcement that air-conditioned Vande Bharat trains will run on significant routes, including those connecting Chennai and the southern cities.

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