Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways (IR).

It operates
the Konkan Railways, a subsidiary zone of the Indian Railways. Its headquarters is at Belapur in
New Bombay. KRC has been making losses since it opened in the 1990s prompting many to
consider it merging with its parent company, IR. The company has been earning operating profits
for past several years. Konkan Railway Corporation is in fore front in introducing and
implementation of new technologies and concepts in railway scenario of India. The spate of
accidents in intial years of operating and the tough terrain of its operation have made Konkan
Railway to bring new technologies. The Anti collision Devices, Sky Bus and RORO are few of
them.

Contents
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 1 Anti-Collision Device ( ACD ) Network

 2 Sky Bus
 3 RORO
 4 External links

Anti-Collision Device ( ACD ) Network

Anti-Collision Device (ACD) Network is a Train Collision prevention system patented by
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (A Public Sector Undertaking of Ministry of Railways,
Government of India). ACDs have knowledge embedded intelligence. They take inputs from
GPS satellite system for position updates and network among themselves for exchanging
information using their data radio modems to take decisions for timely auto-application of brakes
to prevent dangerous ‘collisions’, thus forming a ‘Raksha KavachTM’ (meaning a ‘Train Safety
shield’). ACDs fitted (both in Locomotive and Guard’s Van of a train) act as a watchdog in the
dark as they constantly remain in lookout for other train bound ACDs, within the braking
distance required for their relative speeds. They communicate through their radios and identify
each other. If they happen to find themselves on the same track and coming closer to each other,
they automatically restrain and stop each other, thereby preventing dangerous head-on and rear-
end collisions. Loco ACD of a train also applies brakes to reduce the train speed either to 15
km/h if on approach it receives a message from other train bound ACD that has stopped in a
block section on adjacent track (and driver of that train has yet not communicated that things are
‘Normal’) or to bring the train to a stop if train bound ACDs of other train are radiating ‘train
parted’ message thereby preventing dangerous side collision that may occur due to infringement
of adjacent track by a stopped or a ‘parted’ train, respectively. Loco ACD on receipt of ‘Gate
Open’ input from Gate ACD (provided at non-interlocked level crossing), applies brake to
regulate its train speed. Gate ACDs fitted at manned and un-manned level crossings also give
audio-visual ‘Train Approach’ warning to road users if an ACD fitted train approaches them.
Also if a Loco ACD receives manual ‘SOS’ message from other Train bound ACD or a Station
ACD that is within three km of its radial range; it applies brakes automatically to bring the train
to a stop. The application of this Anti-Collision Device has been refined to not only prevent 'mid
section' collisions but also to preempt their occurrences in 'station yards'. The newly engineered
solution is integrated with the signalling systems and interlocking to react appropriately in case
collision like conditions are perceived at the time of reception and dispatch of trains from a
station, for e.g. while approaching a Station, Loco ACD also gives ‘Station Approach’ alert to
the driver and regulates its train speed when it receives information from Station ACD to this
effect, namely, either main-line is occupied by a train OR a load stabled on it and not fitted with
ACD OR if route for train reception is not set for main line. Loco shed ACDs, Track-ID
Assigning ACDs and Repeater ACDs further strengthen the working of ACD Network. Pilot
project of "Provision of ACD Network" has been successfully commissioned recently on the
Northeast Frontier Railway (of Indian Railways), covering 1736 Route km (of its Broad Gauge
route). Final commissioning trials of ACD network installed on 760 km of Konkan Railway
route is presently underway. Anti Collision Device (ACD), which is an on-board train protection
device and also the first ever device in the world indigenously developed by Konkan Railway,
will be in place by 2013 on the entire Indian Railway network so as to reduce chances of Train
collisions. (Update as on 12th August 2007)

Sky Bus
Konkan Railway has introduced a novel concept of Sky Bus. This is seen as solution for problem
of public transportation problem in thickly populated areas, especially in big cities. The unique
feature of this concept that it requires less space and money as compared to other mass rapid
transport systems. The self propelled coaches hang over rails mounted on a structure and travel.
This concept can be easily implemented even on existing roads. Vehicles can move on the road
and Sky bus can move on their top. Hence the name Sky Bus. A prototype is ready at Madgaon
railway station.

RORO

Trucks on train, RORO

RORO means Roll On Roll Off, where loaded trucks are directly carried by railway wagons and
reached to destination by trains. Konkan railways passes through tough terrains of India. There is
NH-17 passing through same route. Truck drivers find it extremely difficult to drive loaded
trucks through ghats,undulating surfaces,narrow roads and poor road & weather conditions. The
KRC came with concept of RORO , where loaded trucks are moved on wagons and are travelled
by train. This has helped in saving of fuels, decrease in wear and tear of lorries(trucks), relief to
drivers of driving in extreme conditions,can reach faster to destination. This also helps in
decongestion of roads and lowering of pollution. This concept has been beneficial for both truck
operators and KRC.