In addition to providing a smooth travel experience, Indian Railways priorities passenger safety. That is why, while modernization is being emphasized, the security system is also being developed on an ongoing basis. As part of this process, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav oversaw the testing of the Kavach system, an indigenous automated train protection system designed to improve train safety. This system will not only improve the enjoyment of rail travel, but it will also make it safer.
There was a time when train accidents were reported on a routine basis. However, due to the efforts of the Government, these accidents were minimized. Now steps are being taken to eliminate them through the “Kavach” system. The South-Central Railway’s “Kavach” was tested on March 4, 2022, between Gullaguda and Chitgidda railway stations. During the test, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav was aboard an automatic train travelling from Gullaguda to Chitgidda while Railway Board Chairman V.K. Tripath, was on the automatic train from Chitgidda to Gullaguda. During testing, both engines came face-to-face in a collision situation. For a moment, it looked like the two trains would collide with each other, However, Kavach halted both trains 380 metres apart. The locomotive was also tested crossing the red light; however, the locomotive did not pass the red signal because ‘Kavach’ required the automated deployment of brakes. Kavach is a proprietary ATP system developed in-house by the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry. It protects trains at high-risk crossing signals and helps to avoid collisions. If the driver fails to control the train within the speed limit, it automatically activates the train braking system. It also prevents collisions between two engines that use the Kavach system. Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest transportation networks. In such a situation, Kavach is set to make passengers feel safe on their journey and making it enjoyable.
Due to “Kavach,” trains will not collide
Due to the train collision protection system, if two trains approach each other from opposite directions, regardless of speed, these two trains will not collide due to “Kavach.”The announcement about Kavach technology was also made in the 2022 Union Budget. Approximately 34,000 km of network will be covered in the future. Kavach is one of the most cost-effective, Totally Protection Level 4 (SIL-4) certified technologies. Also, it opens up avenues for the export of indigenous technology for the railways.
Characteristics of Kavach
Keeping dangerous signal crossings at bay.
The Driver Machine Interface (DMI) and the Loco Pilot Operation Cumulative Indication Panel (LPOCIP), which display signal status, provide continuous train movement updates.
Avoiding over speeding by using automatic braking. The automatic whistle sounds
When you get close to the gate, the whistle will start automatically as the gate signal approaches
A collision between two engines outfitted with a functional Kavach system would be avoided.
During an emergency, an SOS message is sent.
Centralized live monitoring of train movement through the Network Monitor System.
