Role of the Signalling & Telecommunications Department

 Safety in train operations

 Punctuality of running of trains
 Optimum utilization of line capacity
 Passenger amenities
 Manufacturing of specified signalling items
 Providing telecommunication infrastructure for :
o Safe and efficient operation of trains
o Administrative voice and data circuits
o Passenger Reservation System (PRS)
o Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)
o Freight Operation Information System (FOIS)
o Crew Management System (CMS)
o Coaching Operating Information System (COIS)
o
Management Information System (MIS)
 Management of Railways Corporate Wide Information System (RAILNET)

Elements of Safety in Train Operation

Track Circuiting
Track circuiting is a basic safety device used in signalling systems. It monitors occupancy of a
section of track and prevents clearance of signal in the event of the track section being occupied by
another train. This is a fail-safe device, which in the condition of its failure prevents the signals to be
cleared.

Axle counters
It is another important safety device used for detecting presence of train in a track section. This
device counts the number of train axles entering and exiting through a track section and controls the
associated signal.

Block Working
It is an arrangement to control the entry and exit of train in a section called block section between
any two adjacent stations. This maintains space interval between two following trains. It provides
safety by preventing the second train to be sent into the section between the stations unless and
until the previous train has cleared the section.

Double Line Block Instrument Single Line Tokenless Block Instrument

Driver to Guard communication
Driver to Guard communication has been provided for running trains using VHF walkie-talkie sets,
for better co-ordination in controlling of the train.

Interlocking

Interlocking is a mechanism to check the route the train is going to traverse before clearing the
signal and to prevent the clearing of signal when it is unsafe for the movement. It eliminates
human error and ensures safety in train operations. Two types of interlocking arrangements are in
vogue depending on the size of the station yard.

Panel Interlocking

Panel Interlocking at Gorakhpur Cantt.

Panel interlocking is provided for smaller yards. It is a signalling system, which assures the best
standard of safety and eliminates the accidents arising out of human errors.
Route Relay Interlocking
Route Relay Interlocking is provided at major junctions and yards where large numbers of train
movements are required. It is available at four major junctions/yards viz. Gorakhpur, Chhapra, Siwan,
Bhatni & Kasganj stations in North Eastern Railway.
RRI Panel at Gorakhpur Station Relay Room at Gorakhpur Station

Safety at Level Crossing Gates

All the level crossing gates in the station area and other important gates in the route are controlled by
the signals. These gates are called interlocked gates and provide best safety for the road users.
Provision of telephone communication at manned level crossing gates is a safety tool to ensure
closure and opening of gates at appropriate time. On this railway all the manned level crossing gates
have been provided with telephone communication facility with the controlling stations. Presently 2
types of Lifting Barriers are being used i.e. Mechanically Operated Lifting Barrier & Electrically
Operated Lifting Barrier. Under Emergency circumstances i.e. failure of Lifting Barriers, Sliding Boom
Arrangement at Level Crossing Gates are also used to prevent detention of trains.

Mechanically Operated Lifting Barrier

L C Gate with Electrically Operated Lifting Barrier with Sliding Boom

 Modern Signalling Systems
Computerized/Electronics Interlocking

North Eastern Railway has adopted the state of art of interlocking technology in the form of computer
controlled interlocking. At present 32 stations are equipped with Electronic Interlocking. It cuts down
installation time and makes modifications easier and less time taking.

Computerised Electronic Interlocking

Digital Axle Counters

Digital Axle Counters are being widely used on North Eastern Railway for block proving. Axle counters
are compact and highly reliable. The Digital Axle counter based Block proving called BPAC is provided
over various locations in all the divisions of this Railway. Digital Axle Counters of various types like
Single Section Digital Axle Counter (SSDAC
(SSDAC),, High Availability Single Section Digital Axle Counter
(HASSDAC), Multi Section Digital Axle Counter (MSDAC) are being used over Indian Railway. Large
number of SSDAC & HADAC are available on North Eastern Railway. The work of MSDAC is
sanctioned and likely to be commissioned soon.

Single Section Digital Axle Counter for Block Proving

High Availability Single Section Digital Axle Counter for Block Proving
 Multi Section Digital Axle Counter

Second Distant Signal

For improved visibility of signals and small reaction time of the drivers to control trains especially at
high speeds second distant signal is mandatory. It increases the confidence level of the drivers and
gives them sufficient time to control the trains at high speeds. This is presently sanctioned between
Barabanki - Chhapra section of this Railway and work is in progress.

Intermediate Block Signalling (IBS)

IBS is provided on trunk routes to increase line capacity by splitting the block section into two parts.
Two trains can be accommodated in the Intermediate Block signalling section improving the
throughput. At present, 14 IBS is working.

Automatic Signalling

Automatic signalling is provided in suburban and high density traffic sections to increase Line
capacity.

Light Emitting Diode Signals

The conventional Filament type signaling Lamps are replaced with Light Emitting Diode (LED) to
enhance the reliability and visibility of the signals. Presently, both integrated and discrete type of LED
signals are being used on this Railway.

Data Loggers

Data Loggers are microprocessor based systems for logging the progression of important signalling &
interlocking events taking place at stations. Data loggers are installed at stations provided with Route
Relay Interlocking/ Panel Interlocking / Electronics Interlocking. Data loggers help in Preventive
maintenance and analysis of Signal Incidences.

Data Loggers
Intergraded Power Supply (IPS)

Intergraded Power Supply (IPS)

SMPS based Integrated Power Supply Systems are being provided for Signalling Installations. By
providing these systems, various voltages required for signalling sub-systems can be derived form IPS
alleviating the need for battery banks.

Auto Changeover Fuse Management System

Blowing of fuse is one of the major reason for signal failures. To improve the reliability of signalling
system, Auto Changeover Fuse Management System has been provided at PI / RRI stations of North
Eastern Railway.
****
 Telecommunication

Providing basic telecommunications facilities for the Railways vast transport system is the
responsibility of the Signal & Telecom Department. The telecommunication facilities provided on
the Railways are broadly categorized in to three areas of applications.

- Train Operation
- Data Communication for Railway Information Technology Applications
- Administrative Communications.

Telecommunication system for Train Operation

Provides omnibus communication circuits on OFC and Quad cable for operation of trains and other
supporting activities of train control. The omnibus circuit provides telephone communication
between the station-masters and the control centre at the divisional headquarters. Other omnibus
circuits are also provided for other supporting train operations, including remote operation of 25 KV
AC power supply systems required for electric traction. Emergency communication facility is
provided along with the track throughout the route for the drivers and guards of the running train to
communicate to the control centre at the respective divisional headquarters during emergencies.

Optical Fiber Communication system

Optical Fiber Communication system is the backbone of Railways Telecommunication Network.
The short-haul STM1 equipment is provided at every station along with the fiber network. The
short-haul STM1 network is protected by long-haul STM4 / STM16 self healing ring network
provided by RailTel. The fiber network carriers Voice, Data & Multimedia services for various
applications.

STM-1 STM-4

Data Communication system

Data communication circuits for computerized Passengers Reservation System (PRS), Unreserved
Ticketing System (UTS),

PRS Gorakhpur

Crew Management System(CMS), Freight Operation Information System(FOIS), Coach Operation

Information System(COIS), Management Information System (MIS) etc. and in-house E-mail
facilities are provided by Signal & Telecom .
Telephone Exchanges
Telephone Exchanges are provided at 28 Locations over N.E.Railway . Zonal HQ, Divisional HQ
and other important locations of divisions for Railways internal Communication requirements.

Gorakhpur HQ Izzatnagar Division

Closed User Group (CUG)

CUG Numbers for Mobile Communications are provided to Officers, Supervisors, essential
maintenance staff, drivers and guards in NER.

Passenger Amenities
Telecom Department provides various passengers amenities for the benefit of travelling public.

1. Public Address System is provided at various stations to announce the arrival & departure of
trains and other information required by travelling passengers. This facility is available at 213
stationson this Railway.

Public Address System at Mau Jn.

2. Train Arrival /Departure Information system (Train Indication Board) is provided for indicating the
train timing and platform numbers at 92 important Railway stations.

Train Indication Board at Banaras Station (BSBS)

 3. Coach Guidance System are provided for indicating the coach position of the train on the platform at
30 important Railway stations.

Coach Guidance system at Badshahnagar Station

4. CCTV surveillance system provided at 25 important Railway stations.

CCTV surveillance system at Lucknow

5. The Online Electronic Train Charting system provided at 07 important Railway stations.

Online Electronic Train Charting system at Gorakhpur Jn.

RAILNET

RAILNET infrastructure provides Corporate Wide Information System for

Indian Railways. The network connects all the Zones and production
units. Headquarter, all the 03 divisions & workshops of North Eastern
Railway are connected to RAILNET.

Headquarter and divisions have been connected point-to-point WAN links to IP MPLS VPN network
which provided by M/s RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. The network provides Management Information
System, Electronic Data Interchange and enables sharing of information among various units of
Railways. Internet service has been provided through this network. The HQ network is provided with a
Mail Server and a WebServer.

******