Railways successfully pilot tests have upgraded signaling system to prevent accidents. Bharat News
New Delhi: In an important step to eliminate accidents caused by raising railway safety and blame -like indications like human error and blamey indication, which claimed 296 lives, the Railways has successfully completed the pilot run of the new direct drive electronic interlocking (DDEI) system at three stations, including Jammu and Tajpur (Madhyadhari).The new signaling system eliminates the human interface and will be used in the future railway network.Ddei represents a major technical change in railway signaling. Unlike traditional systems, which rely on mechanical linkage and relay-based interlocking, DDEI controls direct points (track switches) and signals through advanced electronic components and software. Railway officials said that it reduces human intervention, which reduces the scope of operating errors.The system ensures that all switches are correctly aligned, the track is free from obstruction, and the level crossing gates are safely closed before allowing a train to move forward. It also guarantees that only one route is cleaned at a time, which prevents conflicting train movements.The Ministry of Railways took pilot projects in FY 2023-24 as a part of the scheme to improve the funding system. “The results are encouraging, and now it can be used on a large scale,” said a railway official.Electronic Interlocking is a major security mechanism in railway operations, which ensures safe train movements through stations and junctions. While traditional electronic interlocking (EI) systems rely too much on the relay to manage signals and switches, DDEI ends the need for most relay by monitoring and controlling the signaling gear directly. It also detects gear positions in real time, which reduces the ability of accidents.Railway sources said the use of optical fiber cable (OFC) in DDEI reduces the requirement of traditional copper cable by 60–70%, providing protection against electricity. “The number of relay also decreases by about 70%, which reduces the cost of maintenance and it becomes easier to detect any mistake,” said an official.The relay is a device that controls the electrical circuit operating EI.
