New Delhi: Putting passenger security in top gear, the Railways has decided to install a state-of-art warning system to prevent accidents on the Delhi-Agra route, one of the busiest sections in the country.
The train protection warning system project is under various stages of installation on the Delhi-Agra stretch, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
The system provides audio and visual warning to drivers in case of overshooting of signals and over speeding and can even apply brakes automatically if the driver fails to take desired action, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said in a written reply.
The system was first introduced on the Chennai Central-Gummidipundi suburban section (50 km) in Southern Railway in May this year as a pilot project. The outcome was quite satisfactory, he said.
The decision of the Railways for installation of the system comes close on the heels of a review of safety performance during April to September this year, which revealed that failures on the part of drivers to observe signals and over speeding are some of the causes for the recent train accidents in the country.
Railways is already mulling intensive counselling and refresher training for loco pilots.
Though the number of consequential accidents during April to September has been reduced to 91 against 104 during the corresponding period last year, there are quite a few cases of collisions and derailments involving failure on the part of the drivers, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
