Patna: Aiming at mitigating the risks posed by dense fog, which severely hampers visibility and can lead to train accidents, East Central Railway (ECR) launched GPS-based comprehensive winter safety measures in all its five divisions — Danapur, Samastipur, Sonepur, DDU and Dhanbad — on Wednesday, said chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra.
According to Chandra, the new safety measures involve installation of fog signals and other advanced safety devices for loco pilots and station masters, ensuring a heightened vigilance during the foggy winter season.
Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM) Vinay Srivastava said the division has provided winter safety devices like ‘fog pass signalling system' with real-time GPS tracking so that the loco pilots and safety staff on duty could monitor the location and speed of trains in fog-affected areas. "The railways has provided a specialised training to the safety staff and loco pilots to keep close tabs on track condition in the division in winter. Patrolling has been intensified and rail temperatures and over head equipment (OHE) are being closely monitored to avert any kind of mishaps on tracks. The fog signals and GPS tracking systems will provide real-time information to loco pilots and safety staff to make quick decisions in case of any emergency," he said.
According to Sonepur DRM Vivek Bhushan Sood, the division has put in place all its winter safety measures with regular updates being sent to the control room for enhanced coordination. The new safety measures are expected to reduce delays and accidents caused by poor visibility and improve the overall safety for passengers, he said.