The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced several measures to strengthen safe operation of trains. Presenting the Railway Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today he said Safety is a necessary mandate for running trains and rail passengers deserve safe and comfortable travel. The measures taken/proposed to be taken are as follows:

i. Elimination of 10,797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and not adding any new Level Crossing;

ii. Continued thrust on improved signaling for not only ensuring much better safety for train operations but also enhancing the track capacity;

iii. Introduction of Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) on automatic signaling systems;

iv. Following successful completion of initial testing, the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is proposed to be put to rigorous trials;

v. Upgradation of track structure using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail-panels and improved flash butt welding technology;

vi. Induction of Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains (SPART) with speed potential of 160/200 kmph on trial basis with a view to putting in place a fast and reliable disaster management system;

vii. Progressive induction of crash-worthy LHB coaches having anti-climb feature;

viii. Rehabilitation of 17 bridges which have been identified as distressed to be completed over the next one year.

The Minister said, with a view to provide long term prospective and focus attention for enhancing safety, he proposes to initiate an exercise of making Corporate Safety Plan for a ten year period (2014-24)

MKP/AD/DB

(Release ID :92493)

Rail safety measures strengthen infrastructure, signalling, collision avoidance systems and emergency response to improve passenger protection. A comprehensive safety enhancement programme focuses on eliminating level crossings, upgrading track structure and signalling, trialling train protection and collision avoidance systems, inducting crash worthy coaches, deploying high speed accident relief trains, rehabilitating distressed bridges, and initiating a ten year corporate safety plan to coordinate and prioritise safety investments and measures.