Signal & Telecom

Signalling:
Advanced Signalling System
To increase Efficiency as well as Safety in train operations,
Advanced Signaling System with Route Relay / Panel / Electronic
Interlocking (PI/RRI/EI) along with Multi Aspect Colour Light Rains, clouds, mist - This signal on Konkan
Signals have been progressively provided, covering more than Railway route enjoys it all

85% of Broad Gauge stations of Indian Railways, replacing

Outdated Multi Cabin Mechanical Signaling system involving a
large number of human interfaces.
Complete Track Circuiting
Complete Track Circuiting has been done upto 99.8% on
A, B and C routes. Fouling Mark to Fouling Mark track circuiting
on ‘A’, ‘B’ ‘C’, ‘D Special’ and ‘E Special’ routes, where
Picture of LED based torch cum hand
permissible speed is more than 75 kilometers per hour has been flashing Signal lamp—developed by
completed. RDSO

Block Proving Axle Counter

To enhance safety, automatic verification of complete arrival
of train, Block Proving Axle Counter (BPAC) is being provided at
stations having centralized operation of points and signals.
Automatic Block Signaling
Signaling provides a low cost option by provision of Automatic
Block Signalling for augmenting Line Capacity and reduce headway
on existing High Density Routes on Indian Railways.
Adoption of Proven Train Protection Technology
Indian Railways plans to adopt proven train protection Picture of LED based Tail lamps to improve
visibility & quality of existing lamp-
technology like TPWS/ETCS on HDN routes and automatic developed by RDSO
signalling territories to enhance safety and eliminate accidents
caused by human error like ‘Signal Passing at Danger’ (SPAD)
and over speeding.
Train Collision Avoidance System
Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is being
developed indigenously by RDSO for collision prevention as
well as protection against Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) by
loco pilot. RDSO has finalized the draft specifications of TCAS
to develop a multi-vendor inter-operable system. Trials of pilot Display during Prevention of SPAD with
Emergency Brake Application as developed
systems are in progress on South Central Railway. by RDSO

INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2012-13 53

 Train Management System
Train Management System (TMS): TMS helps in real-time
monitoring of trains in the control room. The arrival status of
local trains is reflected on indicators installed on platforms in the
form of a countdown (in minutes) to the train’s arrival on the
platform is displayed on indicators, accompanied by automatic
announcements on platforms.
Picture of LED based Signal lamps
provided at all stations on South East Specialized Training for Signalling & Telecommunication
Central Railway, having Colour Light
Signals
to staff and officers
Indian Railways Institute of Signal Engineering and
Telecommunications (IRISET) was set up in 1957 to cater to
specialized training needs of staff and officers in the field of Railway
Signalling & Telecommunication (S&T). E-Learning network has
been provided to connect IRISET with all S&T Training Centers
of Zonal Railways for computer based interactive learning of
trainees.  The network has been augmented to provide distant
learning wherein the classroom of IRISET is virtually extended
to all Zonal S&T Training Centers.
Interlocking with Signals at Level Crossing Gates.
Accidents at Level Crossings have been a major area of
concern. Indian Railways have provided interlocking with Signals
at more than 10,000 Level Crossing Gates to enhance the safety
at Level Crossings. Initiative has been taken to interlock Level
Crossing Gate with Train Vehicle Units of 20,000 and above.
Electrical Signaling Laboratory, IRISET
Growth of Signalling
Growth of deployment of Signalling on Indian Railways:
As on 31st March 2013
Item Mar'02 Mar'04 Mar'06 Mar'08 Mar'10 Mar'12 Mar'13
Panel Interlocking (Stations) 2224 2692 2911 3462 3830 4079 4160
Route Relay Interlocking 183 197 219 223 255 257 265
(Stations)
Electronic Interlocking 14 45 100 229 401 535 614
(Stations)
PI/RRI/EI (Stations) 2421 2934 3230 3914 4486 4871 5039
MACLS (Stations) 3112 3508 4203 4673 5097 5391 5517
Track Circuiting (Locations) 17078 19593 22285 24567 27215 29201 29940
Block Proving Axle Counter 192 296 632 1437 2450 3410 3895
(Block sections)
LED Lit Stations 62 268 865 1785 3549 4814 5131
Data logger (Stations) 459 813 1737 2690 3816 4773 5020
Automatic Signaling (Route 1336 1352 1479 1601 2020 2286 2435
Kms)
Intermediate Block 140 154 164 185 342 397 426
Newly constructed Electronic Interlocking Signalling (Block sections)
Building at Lumding, Northeast Frontier
Railway Interlocked Gates (Nos) 6441 7006 7781 8428 9335 9983 10364

54 INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2012-13

Telecommunication
Telecommunication plays an important role in train
control, operation and safety on IR. Indian Railways has set up
a state of the art, nationwide telecom network for meeting its
communication needs. RailTel, a Railways Central Public Sector
Enterprise formed in September, 2000 is successfully exploiting
surplus capacity of IR Telecom network commercially. A view of Antenna for Broadband Internet
on Running Trains Through Two-way
As on March 2013, Indian Railways has about 42,099 Satellite Communication—developed by
RDSO
Route Kilometers of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) that is carrying
Gigabits of traffic. Railways Control Communication which
is quintessential for train operation and control is also being
transferred to OFC system. Till date control communication
on 37,463 RKms has been shifted on OFC system. This OFC
network is also contributing significantly in building National
Knowledge Network through RailTel. It is also planning to
provide Broadband connectivity to Panchayats through this
OFC network.
Indian Railways have decided to adopt Global System of
Mobile Communication – Railways (GSM-R) based Mobile Train
Radio Communication. The same has already been provided on
2,074 Route Kms and is being extended on the balance ‘A’,’B’
& ‘C’ routes.
Indian Railways has its own satellite hub that is being
utilized for connecting remote locations for Freight Operation
Information System (FOIS), Unreserved Ticketing System
(UTS), Disaster Management System as well as for other critical
communication systems. Besides, IR works uses 13,116 data
circuits that power its various data and voice networks across
the country.
Railways have also established its Multi-Protocol Level
Switching (MPLS) based Next Generation Network (NGN) for
voice traffic. This Next Generation Network (NGN) has been used
to interconnect more than 100 exchanges of Railways carrying
the administrative voice traffic. Common User Group (CUG)
mobile phones have also been hired to enable communication
while on move to enhance safety, reliability and productivity. IR
is also using 1.29 lakh VHF walkie-talkie sets to ensure safety
and enhance reliability.
Internet has changed the way organizations work today. It
is impacting almost all the activities of daily life today. Broadband

INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2012-13 55


Traffic Position Control (TPC) Panel at RRI,
South Eastern Railway
and penetration are also taken as indicators of growth. Indian
Railways has also embraced this technology and is using it
effectively. It has recently provided broadband in all its major
colonies in zonal and divisional headquarters.
Telecom also plays a major role in ensuring passenger
comfort. For the convenience of passengers, Train Information
Boards have been provided at 1,090 Stations, Public Address
(PA) Systems at 4,328 stations and Coach Guidance System at
558 stations.
RailTel Corporation is speeding the adoption of latest
telecom technologies in Railways. Besides earning revenue
from the spare capacity of Telecom Network of Railways,
it is also modernizing the same. It has set up a state-of-art
MPLS network that is used for providing Internet and l3-VPN
services. The Enterprise WAN of Railway-Railnet Works as
an L3-VPN on this MPLS network. It has also setup STM-4,
STM-16, STM-64 and DWDM networks to carry data across
the length and breadth of the country. It is involved in major
Government projects like National Knowledge Networks &
National OFC networks thereby contributing to the growth of
the nation.
RailTel has also set up a next-generation-network to
carry voice across the country. Point-of-interconnect has been
established with all major telecom operators of the country.
All zonal and divisional railway exchanges have also been
connected to the NGN thereby modernizing the Railways voice
STD network.
Vision 2020 envisages provision of Broad Band Internet
facility on important mail/express trains. Accordingly, a pilot
project to provide Broad Band Internet facility in Kolkata-
New Delhi-Kolkata Rajdhani (3 rakes) was included into works
program of 2010-2011.
Broad Band Internet accesses to passengers have been
provided using two way satellite hybrid with 2G/3G and
Wi-Fi. The System consists of on-board satellite tracking antenna,
multiband antenna and Wi-Fi broadcasting equipment for
on-board last mile connectivity. The primary broad band link
to back haul the internet traffic is established via satellite and in
the event of non-availability of satellite the multi access router
automatically switches from satellite to 2G/3G links to achieve
99% connectivity.

56 INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2012-13

Salient features of the System:-
Bandwidth:-
yy Forward Link (downstream to train) = 4 Mbps Shared
between three rakes
yy Return Link (Upstream from train) = 512 kbps Per train
Authentication of the User:-
To comply with the DOT’s extant guidelines for user
authentication for public Wi-Fi networks, a detail log in process
has been put in place. Multi layered firewall protecting intrusion
from either side is also available in the system.
Important Telecom assets are tabulated below:-
A view of modernised Relay Room of RRI,
SN. Installation Units As on As on South Eastern Railway
31.03.2012 31.03.2013
1. Optical Fibre Cable RKms 40,332 42,099
2. Quad Cable RKms 47,181 52,338
3. Railway Telephone Subscribers Nos. 3,62,551 3,70,412
Lines
4. No. of Control Sections provided Nos. 316 322
with Dual Tone Multiple
Frequency (DTMF) control
equipment
5. Mobile Train Radio
communication System (Route
Kms.):-
a. GSM (R) based RKms 1,710 2,074
b. TETRA based RKms 53 53
6. Digital Microwave (7 GHz) RKms 5,937 4,444
7. Public Address System Nos. of Stns 4,098 4,328
8. Train Display Boards Nos. of Stns 1,090 1,090
9. Coach Guidance System Nos. of Stns 527 558
10. VHF Sets
a. 5 Watt sets (Hand held) Nos. 1,20,218 1,29,019
b. 25 Watt sets (At Stations) Nos. 8,581 8,840
11. V SAT Nos. 1,196 1,196
12. Railnet Connections Nos. 1,08,765 1,11,124
13. UTS/PRS Circuits Nos. 8,556 9,439
14. FOIS Circuits Nos. 1,789 2,008
15. NGN & Exchange Circuits Nos. 2,429 2,429 Transmission System Laboratory, IRISET

INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2012-13 57