Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Indian Railways

Ashok Jhunjhunwala, TeNeT group, IIT Madras ashok@tenet.res.in June 2003

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

What can ICT do?

ICT is known to have made

immense impact in booking of railway tickets can make an impact in
service management tracking movement of goods control of wagons passenger amenities

can improve decision making and management

Not as well understood that ICT can

significantly enhance throughput on existing Railway Network enhancing Carrying Capacity provide voice and data services for passengers

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Carrying Capacity and Throughput

Total Carrying Capacity (people and goods) of Railways is inadequate considering large Indian population
capacity increase has not kept pace with economic growth rail transport more energy efficient as compared to road transport

Train throughput can be enhanced

by adding tracks
expensive (Rs 2 Crores per Km), time consuming

by enhanced signaling (using ICT)

throughput enhancement by a factor of 5 possible on existing tracks while retaining / enhancing safety

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Indian Railways: some facts

dual track

junction

block section run- through section

inter-station distance = 6 - 8 kms major stations are junctions or are located about 100 - 150 kms apart run through section 100 to 150 kms or 15 to 20 stations super fast / express trains stop only at major stations; goods train stop at very few stations; local passenger trains stop at all stations

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Throughput bottlenecks

Throughput is limited in run-through sections due to

only one train can occupy one block section at a time slow down while approaching stations signal operation time efficiency in planning train movements and conveying commands

Train throughput is also severely affected by

slow down due to failure of track in one direction bottlenecks at junctions and yards

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Overcoming Block Section Bottleneck

Split block section and put signaling between station
two trains between two stations intermediate block signaling (IBS)

50 44.8 44

% increase in throughput

31.8 30

15.2 13.1 12.4

1st IBS

2nd IBS

3rd IBS

4th IBS

5th IBS

6th IBS

7th IBS

8th IBS

throughput enhanced by a factor of 1.5 TeNeT Group 6 IRSTE Seminar

Bottleneck at approach of a station

driver acts (stops or slows down) based on signal observed

not knowing whether one needs to
stop at main line run through stop before entering the station stop on loop line

slows down as soon as he / she approaches a station

approach speed depends upon
quantum and quality of information presented location and time at which information presented

can signaling information be downloaded in drivers cabin?

may increase throughput by a factor of 2

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Operations Bottleneck

No of trains per day in one direction

Station master needs proving of last vehicles before operating signals

increase in operating time significantly reduces the throughput
especially as run time in a block decreases

450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

top minutes 0.5 1 2

3 4 5

use of axle counter for proving last vehicle can improve line capacity by factor of 1.4

10

15

20

Effect of operating time on line capacity:

Total running time in critical block section excluding operating time (minutes)

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Improving planning of train movements

Command and control of a train is centralised

Section Controller controls movement of all trains in section (150 Kms) operations of all signals is decentralised at stations
uses voice communication on an omni-bus telephone line between Controller and Station Master used to convey control
12 telephone calls for moving a train from one station to another results into reduced efficiency

Visual or intra-net link between Controller and Station Master can improve efficiencies
and enhance throughput by at least a factor of 1.5

TeNeT Group

IRSTE Seminar

Bi-directional Signaling

For dual track

each track has signaling designed for train movement in one direction Quite often trains in one direction exceed those in other
possible to move two trains in same direction if tracks had bi-directional signaling fast trains could overtake slow trains on other tracks
in motion precedence

On failure of one track

trains move in both directions on the other track with hand and paper signaling
very slow

Introduction of bi-directional Signaling

is estimated to enhance throughput by a factor of 1.3

TeNeT Group

10

IRSTE Seminar

Bottlenecks at Yards and Junctions

large amount of train movements between yard and platforms

slow down approaching trains severe congestion

better design of signals and junctions and better coordinated (centralised) train control in a station
can go a long way to over come the bottleneck

TeNeT Group

11

IRSTE Seminar

Technologies to Enhance Throughput

Known Intermediate Block Signaling

technology known

New Downloading Signaling information to drivers cabin

wireless reliability and error-free

Axle Counter
technology known

bi-directional Signaling
linked to signaling download

Signaling Command and Control

fibre network connecting stations in a section GPS and wireless upload display and intelligent decision making

Centralised operation of Signaling at a station

requires re-layout of signaling on a station

TeNeT Group

12

IRSTE Seminar

Indian Railways spans all over the country

Railways have stations (Infrastructure) every 7 to 10 kms throughout the length and breadth of the country

TeNeT Group

13

IRSTE Seminar

Fibre Backbone

Deployment of Fibre backbone on railway tracks

can provide the largest alternative backbone for the country enormous bandwidth between metros drops at almost all stations
wherever there is no drop, DSL on quad cable, buried between stations can be used for data communications

Already being done by RAILTEL

TeNeT Group

14

IRSTE Seminar

Fibre Network can enhance Signaling

Fibre backbone can be used to provide a Signaling Command and Control Network for each Section
displays at Section Controllers desk and Station Masters desk linked so as to significantly reduce voice communication will be significantly enhanced if train position information
tracked by a GPS in each engine uploaded on wireless to Section Controller and Station Master

TeNeT Group

15

IRSTE Seminar

Wireless Connection to moving trains

GSM is the most cost-effective solution

GSM Base station at towers at every fourth station would provide universal coverage
repeaters at hot spots

Data communication possible on GSM/GPRS

no need for GSM-R can adopt GSM with an application layer software
many companies in India can provide the solution as a overlay on GSM

Railways can use some reserved frequencies for signaling and share infrastructure and frequency with cellular operators for passenger services

TeNeT Group

16

IRSTE Seminar

Integrated Communication System for Railways

GSM and corDECT

corDECT

corDECT

GSM and corDECT

Train communication on GSM

Railway Line fibre/quad cable

Station

802.11, GPS and kiosk on train

corDECT kiosk in villages

7-10 kms
802.11

Station
station kiosk

TeNeT Group

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IRSTE Seminar

Passenger Services

Voice communications
GSM is the best solution Railways can work out a deal with Cell operators, or RAILTEL can float a Cellular Operator company

Data Communication
GPRS or corDECT can provide data communication to moving train
provide a Internet kiosk on a train provide 802.11 wireless connection in the train for passengers using laptops

802.11 wireless connection also at stations for passengers to download and upload when train stops (at low cost)
fibre provides backbone

TeNeT Group

18

IRSTE Seminar

But Railways can do more

7000 stations covering length and breadth of country

a station every 7-10 kms Rapid deployment of Internet kiosk at each station 802.11 communication on station
providing Internet Service to passengers on platforms and parked trains

But the network can also be used to provide communication to villages around station
corDECT can be used to provide Internet and telephony to villages in 10/25 Kms around stations

TeNeT Group

19

IRSTE Seminar

Integrated Communication System for Railways

GSM and corDECT

corDECT

corDECT

GSM and corDECT

Train communication on GSM

Railway Line fibre/quad cable

Station

802.11, GPS and kiosk on train

corDECT kiosk in villages

7-10 kms
802.11

Station
station kiosk

TeNeT Group

20

IRSTE Seminar

Conclusion

ICT can significantly enhance throughput and train capacity

Use of Intermediate Block Signaling, Better information to drivers, Axle counter introduction, Bi-directional signaling, Centralised control at Junction / yards, Intranet link between Controllers and station master
can enhance capacity by almost a factor of 5

Voice and Internet Services to passengers can earn revenue for Railways/ Railtel Railways can contribute to providing Internet Services to Rural India

TeNeT Group

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IRSTE Seminar