Latest technology for tracking trains adopted by WR
Commuters travelling on western line have been getting the real-time location of the local train through a ‘Train Management System’ (TMS). This system is based on the latest technology of ‘digital light processing projector’ and has been tracking the movement of more than 1,000 trains on this route.
The system has been running successfully owing to the efforts put in by four Assistant Train Controllers who each work in six-hour shifts. TMS is a digital display board consisting of 18 screens which tracks failures and accidents taking place on the suburban section. It has been providing the real-time movement of trains on the western line between Churchgate and Virar sections.
This technology has helped commuters on the western line with the facility of displaying schedule of trains on the same platform to be arriving within three minutes. In this way, the commuters not only come to know how long they would have to wait, but also decide on which train would they prefer boarding.
The estimated cost of bringing this technology at Mumbai Central has been estimated at Rs 34 crore and was launched in 2004. This technology was executed by ‘Bombardier Transportation’, a rail vehicle and equipment manufacturing firm located in Germany.
“Any failure taking place on the field is reflected in real-time basis on the screen which helps in reducing the response time to failure. These Assistant Train Controllers are connected to station masters, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and all other departments of the western railways which helps in operating the service,” said MK Jageesh, Chief Train Controller of TMS.
The entire track circuit on which the train is passing can be viewed on the screen. Through this, the controllers can send information regarding train delays and arrival time of any train. The information is passed on the train indicators on the platforms and through announcements at stations.
Major stations located on the western line have TMS workstations which has a display room to view live train movements at any station.
The TMS also helps in analysing the traffic pattern under planned jumbo blocks being operated and accidents taking place on the railway tracks. “The display screen helps the controller by making him aware when a particular train is stopped due to some reason like accidents on railway tracks. During such an incident, the controller informs the Railway Protection Force staff at the nearest station from the spot to attend to the victim,” said an official.
The old TMS system was unable to match the intensive traffic requirements of the suburban section. The controllers had to manually record the train timing to keep a track of the train movements.
“It was practically impossible for the controllers to calculate the expected time of arrival of the trains and inform the announcers during the time of trains delayed on the western line. Due to this, wrong information was fed on the indicators and passenger information system,” said an official.