NWR installs 881 safety devices to prevent accidents due to fog

JAIPUR : The north western railway (NWR) said that to prevent accidents due to fog, a total of 881 fog safety devices have been installed on the entire railway network in the region and GPS mapping of foggy railway sections has been done in all of them. Officials said that rail traffic is mainly affected due to heavy fog in the winter season in North India.

“The railway sections of Jaipur and Bikaner divisions of NWR are mainly affected by excessive fog. Railways have made special additional arrangements for the safe operation of railway services in fog-prone railway sections. Guidelines have been issued by the concerned departments of engineering, signal and telecommunication, electrical, mechanical, operation and safety for safe railway operation in any kind of situation,” said an official.

Officials said that fog safety devices have been provided to loco pilots of all rail way services running in fogprone sections of NWR.
“There is usually a lot of haze and fog on the Jaipur and Bikaner divisions due to which more fog safety devices are used on these divisions. Fog safety device is installed on the engine, after this device is switched on, it keeps the loco pilot informed in advance through the GPS system about the distance of all the signals located in that section. Due to which the loco pilot ensures safety by controlling the speed of his vehicle,” said Shashi Kiran, chief public relations officer NWR. Officials said that safety seminars are also being organised for all levels of employees in foggy railway sections. Due to low temperatures, rail track or welding failures are being identified and repaired.

In order to ensure proper visibility of signals to the loco pilot, the signals have been repainted and bright sign boards and ballasts near the signals have been selectively painted. Apart from this, monitoring of track has been upgraded by increasing the frequency of patrolling in such sections.