Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways (IR). It operates the Konkan Railways, a subsidiary zone of the Indian Railways. Its headquarters is at Belapur in New Bombay. KRC has been making losses since it opened in the 1990s prompting many to consider it merging with its parent company, IR. The company has been earning operating profits for past several years. Konkan Railway Corporation is in fore front in introducing and implementation of new technologies and concepts in railway scenario of India. The spate of accidents in intial years of operating and the tough terrain of its operation have made Konkan Railway to bring new technologies. The Anti collision Devices, Sky Bus and RORO are few of them.
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Anti-Collision Device ( ACD ) Network
Anti-Collision Device (ACD) Network is a Train Collision prevention system patented by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (A Public Sector Undertaking of Ministry of Railways, Government of India). ACDs have knowledge embedded intelligence. They take inputs from GPS satellite system for position updates and network among themselves for exchanging information using their data radio modems to take decisions for timely auto-application of brakes to prevent dangerous ‘collisions’, thus forming a ‘Raksha KavachTM’ (meaning a ‘Train Safety shield’). ACDs fitted (both in Locomotive and Guard’s Van of a train) act as a watchdog in the dark as they constantly remain in lookout for other train bound ACDs, within the braking distance required for their relative speeds. They communicate through their radios and identify each other. If they happen to find themselves on the same track and coming closer to each other, they automatically restrain and stop each other, thereby preventing dangerous head-on and rear-end collisions. Loco ACD of a train also applies brakes to reduce the train speed either to 15 km/h if on approach it receives a message from other train bound ACD that has stopped in a block section on adjacent track (and driver of that train has yet not communicated that things are ‘Normal’) or to bring the train to a stop if train bound ACDs of other train are radiating ‘train parted’ message thereby preventing dangerous side collision that may occur due to infringement of adjacent track by a stopped or a ‘parted’ train, respectively. Loco ACD on receipt of ‘Gate Open’ input from Gate ACD (provided at non-interlocked level crossing), applies brake to regulate its train speed. Gate ACDs fitted at manned and un-manned level crossings also give audio-visual ‘Train Approach’ warning to road users if an ACD fitted train approaches them. Also if a Loco ACD receives manual ‘SOS’ message from other Train bound ACD or a Station ACD that is within three km of its radial range; it applies brakes automatically to bring the train to a stop. The application of this Anti-Collision Device has been refined to not only prevent 'mid section' collisions but also to preempt their occurrences in 'station yards'. The newly engineered solution is integrated with the signalling systems and interlocking to react appropriately in case collision like conditions are perceived at the time of reception and dispatch of trains from a station, for e.g. while approaching a Station, Loco ACD also gives ‘Station Approach’ alert to the driver and regulates its train speed when it receives information from Station ACD to this effect, namely, either main-line is occupied by a train OR a load stabled on it and not fitted with ACD OR if route for train reception is not set for main line. Loco shed ACDs, Track-ID Assigning ACDs and Repeater ACDs further strengthen the working of ACD Network. Pilot project of "Provision of ACD Network" has been successfully commissioned recently on the Northeast Frontier Railway (of Indian Railways), covering 1736 Route km (of its Broad Gauge route). Final commissioning trials of ACD network installed on 760 km of Konkan Railway route is presently underway. Anti Collision Device (ACD), which is an on-board train protection device and also the first ever device in the world indigenously developed by Konkan Railway, will be in place by 2013 on the entire Indian Railway network so as to reduce chances of Train collisions. (Update as on 12th August 2007)
Sky Bus
Konkan Railway has introduced a novel concept of Sky Bus. This is seen as solution for problem of public transportation problem in thickly populated areas, especially in big cities. The unique feature of this concept that it requires less space and money as compared to other mass rapid transport systems. The self propelled coaches hang over rails mounted on a structure and travel. This concept can be easily implemented even on existing roads. Vehicles can move on the road and Sky bus can move on their top. Hence the name Sky Bus. A prototype is ready at Madgaon railway station.
RORO
RORO means Roll On Roll Off, where loaded trucks are directly carried by railway wagons and reached to destination by trains. Konkan railways passes through tough terrains of India. There is NH-17 passing through same route. Truck drivers find it extremely difficult to drive loaded trucks through ghats,undulating surfaces,narrow roads and poor road & weather conditions. The KRC came with concept of RORO , where loaded trucks are moved on wagons and are travelled by train. This has helped in saving of fuels, decrease in wear and tear of lorries(trucks), relief to drivers of driving in extreme conditions,can reach faster to destination. This also helps in decongestion of roads and lowering of pollution. This concept has been beneficial for both truck operators and KRC.
