IMPROVING SAFETY ON UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

PREPARED BY F. ANSARI/ADEN/BRK B.K. RAULA/ADEN/MYS J.K. SRIVASTAVA/ARE/RDSO MANJEET SINGH/AEN/RCF Guided by:- Shri R.K.Yadav
(Prof. Track II)

INTRODUCTION
INDIAN RAILWAYS: WORLDS 2ND LARGEST NETWORK. MORE THAN 150 YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE. AROUND 38000 LCs. FACING GREAT SOCIAL CHALLENGE/THREAT. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS ARE BIG NEWS. LC ACCIDENTS: 0.1% PER MILLION TRAIN KM.

INTRODUCTION

CONTD..

PEOPLE EXPECTS GATES ACCIDENTS FREE. THOUGH UNAVOIDABLE, VULNERABLE STRUCTURES. ROAD USERS MAKE RASH DRIVING & HURRIDLY PASSING. MODERNISATION ENTERES IN ALL FIELDS OF RAILWAY. PRESENT STUDY TREATS UPON MODERN IMPLICATIONS TOWAREDS REDUCING ACCIDENTS.

INTRODUCTION

CONTD.

THE PLACE WHERE TRACK AND HIGHWAY/ROAD INTERSECTS EACH OTHER AT THE SAME LEVEL IS KNOWN AS LEVEL CROSSING. THERE ARE MAINLY TWO TYPES OF LEVEL CROSSING ON IR : MANNED LEVEL CROSSING UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

CLASSIFICATION OF LEVEL CROSSING MANNED LEVEL CROSSING Spl. Class A Class B Class C Class UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING C Class D Class

DETAIL OF LEVEL CROSSINGS ON INDIAN RAILWAY

16500

21500

U nm anned

M anned

CRITERIA FOR MANNING OF UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

BASED ON TRAFFIC DENISITY, VISIBILITY ETC. UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS HAVE BEEN CATEGORIZED FOR MANNING AS PER TRAIN VEHICLE UNIT (TVU) :
I - WHERE TVU EXCEEDS 10000. II - WHERE TVU EXCEEDS 6000 AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTED. III - WHERE TVU < 6000 ,VISIBILITY RESTRICTED & MOTER VEHICLES PLY. IV - WHERE TVU < 6000 ,VISIBILITY RESTRICTED & MOTER VEHICLES DO NOT PLY. V - WHERE TVU EXCEEDS 6000 AND VISIBILITY ADEQUATE. NOTE: 1. ALL UMLCs ON RAJDHANI & SHATABDI ROUTES HAVING SPEED 120 KMPH TO BE MANNED ON PRIORITY. 2.FOR MANNING OF UMLCs HAVING TVU >10000, BOARDs APPROVAL IS NOT REQUIRED.

DETAILS OF ACCIDENTS ON IR IN PAST YEARS (YEAR 2004-05)

10 3 13 5 C O L L IS IO N 65 M ANNED LC UNM ANNED LC D E R A IL M E N T S F IR E 138 O T HER S

DETAILS OF ACCIDENTS ON IR IN PAST YEARS (YEAR 2005-06)

15 4 9 10 C O L L IS IO N 65 M AN N E D LC U N M AN N E D LC D E R A IL M E N T S F IR E 131 OTH ER S

ACCIDENT CASES
1. COUPLED LIGHT ENGINES DASHED WITH AUTORICKSHAW AT GATE NO 78 AT KM 14/23 OF HYDERABAD DIVISION OF SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY ON 10-01-03 (KILLED 9,INJURED-2) 2. 5027 UP DASHED WITH TRACTOR ON GATE AT KM 429/10-11 BETWEEN BHATPAR RANI AND BHATNI STATION OF BSB DIVISION OF NE.RLY ON 30-03-03 (KILLED 11,INJURED-8)

ACCIDENT CASES
3. 5RN PASSENGER TRAIN DASHED WITH ONE TRACTOR TROLLEY ON UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING AT KM 1115/3-4 . THE TRACTOR TROLLEY WAS CARRYING A MARRIAGE PARTY WITH MUSIC ON. THE TRACTOR TROLLEY CONTINUED TO CROSS THE TRACK AT HIGH SPEED. 58 PEOPLE KILLED,14 INJURED. 4. 321 UP (TATA - NAGPUR PASSENGER) DASHED WITH DUMPER AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING GATE NO. 452 BETWEEN DURG AND MURLIPUR STATION ON 28-08-01. THE TRAIN DRIVER LOST HIS LIFE AND THE ASSTT. DRIVER GOT TRAPPED IN THE TRAIN ENGINE.

ACCIDENT CASES

CONTD

5. ON 30.05.06 KAPILVASTU EXPRESS (GONDA - GORAKHPUR) DASHED WITH A TRACTOR TRAILOR AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING NEAR KUIAN VILLAGE OF BALRAMPUR DISTRICT (UP), WHERE 3 PEOPLE DIED ONE PERSON SERIOUSLY INJURED.

MANAGEMENT OF TOTAL REACTION TIME

A TRAIN WITH 100 KMPH SPEED BARELY TAKES 20 SECS TO COVER 600 M. EVEN WHEN TRAIN IS VISIBLE & AUDIBLE, ROAD DRIVER MAKES WRONG JUDGMENT & TRIES TO CROSS THE TRACK WHICH ULTIMATELY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

MANAGEMENT OF TOTAL REACTION TIME

CONTD

TOTAL REACTION TIME BY THE ROAD VEHICLE DRIVER, WHICH VARIES BETWEEN 10 TO 30 SECS, CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING: PERCEPTION:- TIME TAKEN TO HEAR
RECOGNITION:- TIME TAKEN FOR JUDGMENT/DECISION PROCESSING/ACTION:- TIME TAKEN FOR ACT EITHER TO STOP OR CROSS THE TRACK

MAIN CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS ON UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

HIGH SPEED OF ROAD VEHICLE. CARELESSNESS ON THE PART OF DRIVER OF ROAD VEHICLE. VIOLATION OF ADHERING TO SAFETY MEASURES AND RULES. OVER-CONFIDENCE AND MISJUDGE WHILE HURRIEDLY CLEARING THE VEHICLE ON THE FACE OF AN APPROACHING TRAIN. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND NOT PROPERLY PERIODIC COUNSELLING BY THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES.

MAIN CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS ON UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

CONTD

INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE OF ROAD VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING. ABSENCE OF MIND UNDER INTOXICATION. INCOMPETENT / UNLICENSED DRIVING. POOR VISIBILITY. DEFACING/DAMAGING OF SIGNBOARDS. DEFICIENCIES OF ROAD SURFACES. VIOLATION OF SAFETY RULES AND MEASURES.

EXISTING FACILITY PROVIDED ON UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING

ROAD SIGNBOARDS ON APPROACHES AS PER PROVISIONS OF IRPWM. PROVISION OF SPEED BREAKER AS PRESCRIBED IN IRPWM (AS PER DESIGN OF INDIAN ROAD CONGRESS) WHISTLE BOARD AT 600 METRE DISTANCE ALONG THE TRACK ON BOTH SIDES OF UNMANNED LC.

DISADVANTAGES IN PRESENT WORKING SYSTEM

MOST LCs ARE CONTROLLED & MAINTAINED BY RAILWAY WITHOUT ANY BENEFIT. FREQUENT & MANUAL METHOD OF MAINTENANCE. RESPONSIBILITIES & BLAMES TURNED ON RAILWAYS. LOSS BY COST OF DAMAGE & CLAIMS.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

PROVISION OF TRAIN ACTUATED WARNING SYSTEM : A RELIABLE TRAIN

ACTUATED WARNING SYSTEM FOR GIVING AUDIO/VISUAL WARNING TO ROAD USERS ABOUT AN APPROACHING TRAIN SHOULD BE USED TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING. SUCH A SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND FIELD TRIALS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT TO PROVE ITS RELIABILITY AND FAIL-SAFE FEATURE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

APPROACHING (ATWS) : IN

THIS NEW CONCEPT OF APPROACHING TRAIN WARNING SYSTEM, WARNING SYSTEM IS INSTALLED AT LEVEL CROSSING FOR PROVIDING WARNING TO ROAD TRAFFIC OF APPROACHING TRAIN. IN THIS SYSTEM, WARNING STARTS ONLY WHEN A TRAIN IS ACTUALLY PRESENT AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE LEVEL CROSSING AND WARNING CONTINUES TILL THE TRAIN HAS TOUCHED THE LEVEL CROSSING.THIS DEVICE MAY BE PROVIDED AT LCs WHERE HEAVY TRAFFIC PASSES AND VISIBILITY IS NOT CLEAR.

TRAIN

WARNING

SYSTEM

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

REDUCTION IN SPEED OF ROAD VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING THE UNMANNED LC :

ADDITIONAL SPEED BREAKERS MAY BE THE BEST POSSIBLE REMEDY TO BRING THE SPEED SUBSTANTIALLY DOWN i.e. UP TO DEAD SPEED, SO THAT THE TIME FOR JUDGMENT WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE DRIVER OF ROAD VEHICLE TO NEGOTIATE THE LEVEL CROSSING SAFELY BECAUSE MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS WERE OCCURRED DUE TO RASH AND CARELESS DRIVING OF ROAD VEHICLE

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

REDUCTION IN NOS. OF UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSING : IN MANY SECTIONS OF RAILWAYS

UNMANNED LCs ARE LOCATED IN PLENTY SUCH THAT EVEN OVER A STRETCH OF 500 METERS TO 1 KILOMETERS TWO TO THREE LEVEL CROSSINGS ARE AVAILABLE. AMONG THEM SOME ARE REDUNDANT WHICH INCUR ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE. SUCH UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS MUST BE IDENTIFIED & CLOSED DULY DIVERTING THEM THROUGH THE NEARBY MANNED LEVEL CROSSING, UNAVOIDABLE UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS, ROB, RUB BY PROVIDING PROPER CONNECTIVITY.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

PROVISION OF SPEED BARRIERS :

SPEED BARRIERS MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED IN A STAGGERED MANNER TO ENFORCE THE ROAD VEHICLES TO TRAVEL IN A ZIGZAG MANNER ON UNMANNED L C APPROACHES, THEREBY THE SPEED OF ROAD VEHICLE WILL BE REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY AND THE REACTION TIME FOR DRIVER WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO JUDGE BEFORE CROSSING , THEREBY REDUCING THE CHANCES OF COLLISION.THE OBSTRUCTIONS CAN BE MADE BY FIXING OF UNSERVICEABLE RAIL PIECES FIRMLY ON THE ROAD OR BY EMPTY COAL TAR DRUMS FILLED WITH DEBRIS, PLACED AT ONE METRE APART ACROSS THE ROAD.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

DRIVERS ABOUT SAFETY AT UNMANNED LEVEL CROSSINGS, PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TIME TO TIME THROUGH DIFFERENT MEDIA LIKE QUICKIES ON TV, CINEMA SLIDES, POSTERS. NEWSPAPER, RADIO AND STREET PLAYS ETC. JOINT AMBUSH CHECK WITH CIVIL AUTHORITIES MAY BE CONDUCTED TO NAB ERRAND ROAD VEHICLE DRIVERS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACT-1988 AND THE RAILWAY ACT-1989.

PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN: TO EDUCATE ROAD

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

contd..

RELOCATING & SHIFTING OF THE SKEW AND THOSE EXISTING UMLCS WHERE VISIBILITY IS MUCH POOR SUCH AS IN SHARP CURVES, CUTTINGS & SUMMITS TO A SAFE AND VISIBLE LOCATIONS. IN SOME PART OF OUR COUNTRY NOW A DAYS NEW TYPE OF UNAUTHORIZED LOCALLY MADE ROAD VEHICLE CALLED JUGAD IS BEING USED FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS AND GOODS . THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN BY UN- LICENSED PERSONS , WHO DOES NOT KNOWS TRAFFIC RULES. THEREFORE, USE OF THESE VEHICLES JUGAD SHOULD BE RESTRICTED. REMINDER INDICATOR BOARDS REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF UMLCS TO BE FIXED AT A DISTANCE OF NEARLY 1 KM OR MORE.

CONCLUSION
IN THE ADVENT OF MODERNIZATION IN INDIAN RAILWAYS, THE BOTTLENECK IN SAFETY LIKE ACCIDENTS ON UMLCs IS TO BE DEALT WITH MORE IN A SCIENTIFIC MANNER AND RATIONAL THINKING FOR MINIMISING ACCIDENTS TO UTMOST WITH MODERN EQUIPMENTS AND MORE AWARENESS TO THE ROAD USERS.