Railway Safety

An overview of the inherent safety systems less known to the public

Some Key Statistics, 2010

FIRST TRAIN BETWEEN Bori Bandar and Thane on 16-04-1853 (34 kms) AT 3:35 PM with 21 gun salute. Journey: 1hr 15minutes. Actually the real first passenger train in India trial run was on 18-11-1952. Nationalization of railways (42 rail systems) was done In 1951 Route kilometers 64,215 kms Track kilometers 1,14,000 kms. Number of stations 7,500 Number of passenger trains per day 9,000 Number of freight trains per day 5,700 Number of passengers per day 13 millions Freight carried per day 2.8 million tonnes

Statistics . contd
Number of level crossings Number of locomotives (42+5022+3825) Route length electrified Number of railway divisions Number of production units Staff cost per year Computerized ticketing was started Entire system on line by Number of computerized reservation centers CAPITAL AT CHARGE 38,000 8,889 20,014 kms 67 6 51,236 CRORES 1987 1995 2386 1,23,000 CRORES.

STATISTICS CONTD.
Revenue Net income Number of railway zones Number of bridges Employees (A-8566+B-8285+C-9,04,696+D-4,39,972) Number of passenger coaches Number of freight wagons 98,000 crores 9,595 crores 17 1,20,000 13.61 lakhs 60,000 2,40,000

CITIZENs CHARTER
This charter is a commitment of the Indian Railways administration to: 1. Provide safe and dependable train services 2. Set notified standards for various services wherever possible 3. Provide courteous and efficient counter services 4. Provide responsive and effective grievance redressal machinery at various levels for time bound resolution of complaints and grievances as far as possible.

MAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS

DERAILMENTS (major percentage) COLLISIONS LEVEL CROSSINGS SABOTAGE FIRE MISCELLANEOUS

NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS
YEAR COLLISIONS DERAIL MENTS LEVEL CROSSINGS

FIRE 19 12 9

TOTAL 234 195 194

05-06 06-07 07-08

9 8 8

131 96 100

75 79 77

08-09

13

85

69

10

177

DETAILS OF CASUALTIES KILLED AND INJURED

YEAR 06-07 07-08 08-09 PASS 38 9 52 STAFF 6 10 12 OTHE 164 172 145 TOTAL 208 191 209 PASS 227 246 257 STAFF 24 31 22 OTHER TOTAL 151 135 165 402 412 444

Commission of Railway safety

One CCRS at Lucknow and 9 other CRSs working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Commissions Principal functions are: 1. Inspection of new railway lines prior to authorisation for passenger traffic. 2. Periodical inspection of open lines or of any rolling stock 3. Approval of new works and renewels affecting passenger carrying trains. 4. Inquiry under the Railway Act 1989 into the cause of any accident on a railway. 5. General advice on matters concerning safety in train operations. Railway should send intimation of serious accidents to the CRS

SAFETY ORGANISATION
DSO AT DIVISION LEVEL (under DRM) CSO AT HEADQUARTERS (under GM) SAFETY DIRECTORATE AT BOARD LEVEL IMPOSITION OF MINIMUM PUNISHMENTS PRESCRIBED FOR EACH TYPE OF ACCIDENTS/FAILURES ARE ENSURED. ENSURE STAFF ARE SENT FOR PERIODICAL TRAININGS AS PRESCRIBED

DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN SAFETY OF RUNNING TRAINS

Civil engineering Mechanical engineering Electrical engineering Signal engineering Operating department

CIVIL ENGINEERING STAFF AND THEIR DUTIES

Maintenance of track (USFD, LWR, PSC, MACHINE MAINTENANCE, TRCs, Foot plate inspections) TRACKMEN, KEYMEN, GANG (DTM UNIT) DAY PATROLLING HOT weather patrolling NIGHT/MONSOON PATROLLING SECURITY PATROLLING EMERGENCY PROTECTION OF TRACK

CIVIL ENGG CONTD.

SE PUSH TROLLEY, FOOT PLATE INSPNS. AS PER SCHEDULES SSE DO ADEN DO Sr.DEN DO CE MOTOR TROLLEY/INSPECTION CARRIAGE GM ACCOMPANIED BY ALL PHODs ONCE IN 2 YEARS ULTRASONIC TESTING OF RAILS AND WELDED JOINTS. MEDICAL EXAMINATION A-3

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DRIVERS (MEDICAL, BREATHLYSER TEST AND REST BEFORE DUTY, RUNNING ROOM FACILITIES, STANDING) COACH MAINTENANCE, PRIMARY/SECONDARY AND POH, END COACHES, VACUUM, LOCO MAINTENANCE, SCHEDULES PERIODICAL ULTRASONIC TESTING OF WHEELS MEDICAL EXAMINATION A-1 (COLOUR BLIND?)

ELECTRICAL ENGG
LOCO MAINTENANCE, SCHEDULES AND POH SHORT CIRCUITS CAUSING FIRE ACCIDENTS, TRIPPING OF 11KV IMMEDIATELY TRACTION CONTROL (ALL SECTIONS POWER CAN BE CCONTROLLED) MEDICAL EXAMINATION A-1

OPERATING DEPARTMENT
STATION MASTERS, LINE CLEAR, VERIFY BEFORE CLEARING SIGNALS, EXCHANGE SIGNALS, GUARDS, EXCHANGE SIGNALS, PROTECTION, VACUUM PORTERS, EXCHANAGE SIGNALS, INTERLOCKING FAILURES, CLAMPING OF PONTS UNUSUAL OCUURANCES, TOTAL FAILURE OF COMMUNICATION SINGLE LINE WORKING ON DOUBLE LINE MEDICAL EXAMIONATION A-2

SIGNAL&TELECOM ENGG.
TRACK CIRCUITING/AXLE COUNTERS TO AVOID COLLISIONS BLOCK INSTRUMENTS AND INTERLOCKING COMMUNICATION WALKIE TALKIES SATELLITE SIGNAL FAILURES CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DRIVER, GUARD & STATION MASTER THROUGH WALKIE-TALKIES. MAINTENANCE OF EMERGENCY PHONE SOCKETS PROVIDED AT 1 KM INTERVALS FOR USE BY GUARDS WHEN NECESSARY MEDICAL EXAMINATION A-2

ACCIDENTS GENERAL
SIREN CALLS AT DIVISIONAL OFFICE, LOCO SHED & HEADQUARTERS ART TO LEAVE WITHIN 30 MINUTES MEDICAL RELIEF VAN FIRST TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY BREAKDOWN STAFF ARE NOMINATED TIME SCHEDULE FIXED AND ENQUIRIES ARE CONDUCTED. MINIMUM PUNISHMENTS PRESCRIBED ARE IMPOSED DERAILMENTS DUE TO COMBINATION OF FACTORS ACTION IS INVARIABLY TAKEN ON ALL PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAFETY OR GENERAL AND SUITABLE ACTION IS TAKEN INCLUDING PUNISHMENTS OF STAFF RESPONSIBLE.

GENERAL CONTD.
PUNISHMENTS NOW UP TO HIGHER LEVELS TRAINING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPORVED DRIVERS JOB EVEN WITHOUT TOILET FACILITY POLICE ALSO FILE COURT CASES ON NEGLIGENT EMPLOYEES THE CAUSE IN LARGE NUMBER OF CCEDENTS IS HUMAN FAILURE AND EFFORTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY MADE BY THE RAILWAYS TO MINIMISE THESE FAILURES. THE TREND OF THE ACCIDENTS CLEARLY INDICATES THIS.