ECoR Implements Enhanced Safety Measures for Trains During Foggy Winter Season | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: East Coast Railway (ECoR) took precautionary measures to ensure secure train operations during the foggy winter season across its jurisdiction. The initiative comes as several areas under ECoR experience dense fog during night and early morning hours.
Railways usually takes precautions during every winter season due to foggy weather conditions to prevent any untoward incidents.Its key safety measures include the installation of luminous and fluorescent strips on overhead equipment masts, level crossings and approaching stop signals. These visual aids help locomotive pilots identify critical points even in poor visibility conditions, according to official sources.
The railways mandated speed regulations during foggy weather, with trains not exceeding 60 kmph in low visibility conditions. Locomotive pilots were authorised to operate at speed they deemed safe and comfortable, prioritising passenger safety over punctuality, the sources said.
Ashoka Kumar Mishra, chief spokesperson of ECoR, said, “Passenger safety is our topmost priority and keeping that in mind, ECoR has installed a detonator system — flat and red-coloured metal containers containing explosives that create an audible warning when trains pass over them. Station managers have been equipped with adequate detonators and trained to assess visibility conditions for the system’s installation.”
As additional safety measures, ECoR holds a cold weather patrolling system with trained winter patrolmen, installs LED-based flasher taillights with luminous indication strips and mandatorily uses red tail lamps during night and low visibility conditions. It also conducts regular surprise checks and footplate inspections between midnight and 7am.
The railways also strengthened its operational procedures by conducting regular counselling sessions for train running staff, installing luminous barriers at busy level crossings, implementing strict monitoring systems during foggy conditions and training guards to oversee speed compliance during low visibility. The loco pilots were also advised to whistle frequently to warn the nearby gateman and road users of approaching trains. “We are continuously monitoring and upgrading our safety protocols to ensure secure rail operations during foggy conditions,” Mishra added.
The railway authorities urged passengers to cooperate with any weather-related adjustments in train schedules, emphasising that such measures are implemented solely for their safety.
Railways usually takes precautions during every winter season due to foggy weather conditions to prevent any untoward incidents.Its key safety measures include the installation of luminous and fluorescent strips on overhead equipment masts, level crossings and approaching stop signals. These visual aids help locomotive pilots identify critical points even in poor visibility conditions, according to official sources.
The railways mandated speed regulations during foggy weather, with trains not exceeding 60 kmph in low visibility conditions. Locomotive pilots were authorised to operate at speed they deemed safe and comfortable, prioritising passenger safety over punctuality, the sources said.
Ashoka Kumar Mishra, chief spokesperson of ECoR, said, “Passenger safety is our topmost priority and keeping that in mind, ECoR has installed a detonator system — flat and red-coloured metal containers containing explosives that create an audible warning when trains pass over them. Station managers have been equipped with adequate detonators and trained to assess visibility conditions for the system’s installation.”
As additional safety measures, ECoR holds a cold weather patrolling system with trained winter patrolmen, installs LED-based flasher taillights with luminous indication strips and mandatorily uses red tail lamps during night and low visibility conditions. It also conducts regular surprise checks and footplate inspections between midnight and 7am.
The railways also strengthened its operational procedures by conducting regular counselling sessions for train running staff, installing luminous barriers at busy level crossings, implementing strict monitoring systems during foggy conditions and training guards to oversee speed compliance during low visibility. The loco pilots were also advised to whistle frequently to warn the nearby gateman and road users of approaching trains. “We are continuously monitoring and upgrading our safety protocols to ensure secure rail operations during foggy conditions,” Mishra added.
The railway authorities urged passengers to cooperate with any weather-related adjustments in train schedules, emphasising that such measures are implemented solely for their safety.
