Southern Railway revamps its signal infra to increase train speed

22 May 2022 CW Team

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.

Image Source

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Schwing Stetter India Unveils New Innovations at Excon 2025

Schwing Stetter India unveiled more than 20 new machines at Excon 2025, marking one of its most significant showcases and introducing several India-first technologies to the construction equipment sector. The company launched the country’s first 56-metre boom pump designed and manufactured in India, the first fully electric truck mixer, the first CNG mixer variant and the first hybrid boom pump. Executives said the launch portfolio was engineered to support India’s move toward faster, greener and more vertically oriented infrastructure through advanced engineering, clean-energy solutions a..

SEPC Resolves Hindustan Copper Dispute, Wins Rs 725 Mn Order

Engineering, procurement and construction firm SEPC Ltd has recently settled a dispute with Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and secured a mining infrastructure order valued at Rs 725 million from the state-owned company. SEPC informed the stock exchanges that it has executed a settlement deed with HCL, bringing closure to all inter-se claims and counterclaims arising from arbitration proceedings. As part of the settlement, SEPC will receive Rs 304.5 million as full and final payment, marking the resolution of all pending disputes between the two entities. The company also stated that Hindustan Co..

20% Ethanol Blending Cuts India’s CO2 Emissions by 73.6 Mn Tonnes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said that India has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 73.6 million metric tonnes due to the adoption of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. He made the statement while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Describing ethanol as a green fuel, the minister said it plays a key role in reducing pollution while also supporting higher incomes for farmers. He underlined that ethanol blending contributes both to environmental sustainability and rural economic growth. Nitin Gadkari also po..