KAVACH

Introduction

KAVACH is a state-of-the-art electronic system that was designed to help the Indian Railways achieve Zero Accidents. It is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that has been indigenously developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry with trials facilitated by South Central Railway to achieve the corporate objective of safety in train operations across Indian Railways. It activates the train braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as per the speed restrictions.

KAVACH-Automatic Train Protection System to boost safety in train operations

In addition, it prevents collision between two Locomotives equipped with a functional KAVACH system. It is a Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4) certified technology with the probability of an error being one in 10,000 years. 2 Once implemented, KAVACH will be the world's cheapest automatic train collision protection system, costing 50 lakh rupees per kilometer to operate compared to about two crore rupees worldwide. It also opens avenues of export of this indigenous technology for Railways.Indian Railways is fast expanding wings to connect the length and breadth of the country on the strength of an efficient and reliable Rail system. The technology imbibed advancement is focused to ensure enhanced safety in Train operations.

As part of the same, the ‘KAVACH’ - a state-of-the-art Automatic Train Protection system was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian Industry. South Central Railway has been closely associated with its implementation since the development stage and is facilitating trials to achieve the corporate objective of safety in train operations across Indian Railways. KAVACH is meant to provide protection by preventing trains to pass the Signal Passing at Danger, (SPAD) (Red) and avoiding a collision. It activates the train breaking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as per the speed restrictions. In addition, it prevents collision between two Locomotives equipped with a functional KAVACH system.

During the development phase, KAVACH was implemented for a length of 264 Kms covering 25 stations across Wadi – Vikarabad –Sanath Nagar and Vikarabad – Bidar sections over South Central Railway. Later, the system has been further extended by additional 936 kms, taking the cumulative deployment of Kavach to 1,200 kms.

Main Features of Kavach:

● Prevention of Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD)

● Continuous update of Movement Authority with a display of signal aspects in Driver Machine Interface (DMI) / Loco Pilot operation cum Indication Panel (LPOCIP).

● Automatic Braking for Prevention of Over Speeding.

● Auto Whistling while approaching Level Crossing Gates.

● Prevention of collision between two Locomotives equipped with functional KAVACH.

● SoS Messages during emergency situations.

● Centralized live monitoring of Train movements through the Network Monitor System.

Salient features of Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

Prevents SPAD by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so.
.Control train speed within specified limits
Reduce the probability of train collisions in block sections and on running lines at stations.
Indicate Movement Authority or/and display Signal Aspect in Loco pilot’s cab
A cab-Signalling feature is useful for high-speed trains, foggy weather.
Works on the principle of continuous update of Movement Authority.
TCAS can be interfaced with existing interlocking including relay-based interlocking.
Loco pilot to follow line-side signals as per extant rules.
TCAS shall conform to Safety Integrity Level -4 (SIL-4) as per CENELEC or equivalent standards.

KAVACH works are being taken up in a focused manner as per the following priority set by the Railway Board.

First Priority: High-Density Routes and on New Delhi - Mumbai & New Delhi - Howrah Sections for 160 Kmph with Automatic Block Signaling & Centralized Traffic Control, since such sections have higher chances of human errors on part of drivers as trains run closer to each other.
Second Priority: On the Highly Used Networks with Automatic Block Signaling & Centralized Traffic Control.
Third Priority: On other Passenger High Density Routes with Automatic Block Signaling.
Fourth Priority: All other routes