Role of the Signalling & Telecommunications Department

• Safety in train operations
• Punctuality of running of trains
• Optimum utilisation of line capacity
• Passenger amenities
• Manufacturing of specified signalling items
• Providing telecommunication infrastructure for :
  • Safe and efficient operation of trains
  • Administrative voice and data circuits
  • Passenger Reservation System (PRS)
  • Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)
  • Freight Operation Information System (FOIS)
  • Crew Management System (CMS)
  • Coaching Operating Information System (COIS)
  • Management Information System (MIS)
• Management of Railways Corporate Wide Information System (RAILNET)

Track Circuiting

Track circuiting is a basic safety device used in signalling systems. It monitors occupancy of a section of track and prevents clearance of signal in the event of the track section being occupied by another train. This is a fail-safe device, which in the condition of its failure prevents the signals to be cleared.

Axlecounters

It is another important safety device used for detecting presence of train in a track section. This device counts the number of train axles entering and exiting through a track section and controls the associated signal.

Block Working

It is an arrangement to control the entry and exit of train in a section called block section between any two adjacent stations. This maintains space interval between two following trains. It provides safety by preventing the second train to be sent into the section between the stations unless and until the previous train has cleared the section.

Driver to Guard communication

Driver to Guard communication has been provided for running trains using VHF walkie-talkie sets, for better co-ordination in controlling of the train.

Interlocking

Interlocking is a mechanism to check the route the train is going to traverse before clearing the signal and to prevent the clearing of signal when it is unsafe for the movement. It eliminates human error and ensures safety in train operations. Two types of interlocking arrangements are in vogue depending on the size of the station yard.

Panel Interlocking

Route Relay Interlocking

Safety at Level Crossing Gates

All the level crossing gates in the station area and other important gates in the route are controlled by the signals. These gates are called interlocked gates and provide best safety for the road users. Provision of telephone communication at manned level crossing gates is a safety tool to ensure closure and opening of gates at appropriate time. On this railway all the manned level crossing gates have already been provided with telephone communication facility with the controlling stations. Statistical details of the level crossing gates are as under:

Total number of level crossing gates manned                               1261

Number of gates provided with telephone                                    1261

Number of LC gates interlocked                                                   823

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Computerized/Electronics  Interlocking

Digital Axle Counters

South Central Railway has been the test bed for Digital Axle Counters. To start with the state of art Digital axle counters imported from Germany have been provided between Moula-Ali and Cherlapalli railway stations. These axle counters are compact and highly reliable. The Digital Axle counter based Block proving is introduced on 95 block sections in Vijayawada and Secunderabad divisions using indigenously developed Digital Axle Counters.

Second Distant Signal

For improved visibility of signals and small reaction time of the drivers to control trains especially at high speeds second distant signal is mandatory. It increases the confidence level of the drivers and gives them sufficient time to control the trains at high speeds. This has been introduced on Rajdhani route between Balharshah - Kazipet - Vijayawada – Gudur, Kazipet - Secunderabad sections, of South Central Railway. A total of 126 stations have this facility.

Intermediate Block Signalling

IBS is provided on trunk routes to increase line capacity by splitting the block section into two parts. Two trains can be accommodated in the Intermediate Block signalling section improving the throughput. There are 116 Intermediate Block signals on South Central Railway.

Automatic Signalling

Automatic signalling is provided in suburban and high density traffic sections to increase Line capacity.  In this system signals are provided at almost every kilometer. 143 route kilometers are provided with Automatic signaling in Secunderabad and Hyderabad Divisions on South Central Railway.

Data Loggers

Data Loggers are microprocessor based systems for logging the progression of important signalling & interlocking events taking place at stations. 363 Data loggers  are installed at stations provided with Route Relay Interlocking/ Panel Interlocking / Electronics Interlocking. Data loggers help in diagnosis of signal defects.   

Intergraded Power Supply (IPS)

SMPS based Integrated Power Supply Systems are being provided for Signalling Installations. By providing these systems, various voltages required for signalling sub-systems can be derived form IPS alleviating the need for battery banks. There are 125 IPS systems provided on S.C. Railway.

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Telecommunication for Train Operation

Provides omnibus communication circuits on cable and overhead telecom wires for operation of trains and other supporting activities of train control. The omnibus circuit provides telephone communication between the station-masters and the control centre at the divisional headquarters. Other omnibus circuits are also provided for other supporting train operations, including remote operation of 25 KV AC power supply systems required for electric traction. Emergency communication facility is provided along with the track throughout the route for the drivers and guards of the running train to communicate to the control centre at the respective divisional headquarters during emergencies.

OFC & MW Communication

a) Optical Fibre Communication system is the backbone of Railways Telecommunication Network. The short-haul STM1 equipment of 155 Mbps capacity is provided at every station along the fibre network.  The short-haul STM1 network is protected  by long-haul STM4 / STM16 self healing ring network provided by RailTel.

     The fibre network carriers Voice, Data & Multimedia services for various applications.

b) Microwave communication

 

The OFC & MW communication system meets the entire need of voice and data communication circuits of the divisions and the zonal headquarters.

Telephone Exchanges

Provides Telephone Exchanges for Railways internal Communication requirements.

Data Communication

Data communication circuits for computerised Passengers Reservation System, Unreserved Ticketing System etc.  and in-house E-mail facilities are provided by Signal & Telecom branch.

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Signalling :

Telecom :

Optical Fibre Communication

Optic fibre communication has been introduced in the following sections of South central Railway:

1.      Secunderabad – Wadi – Guntakal – Gooty – Dharmavaram

2.      Gooty – Renigunta – Gudur

3.      Gudur – Vijayawada – Visakapatnam

4.      Guntakal – Bellary

5.      Secunderabd –Guntur –Vijayawada

6.      Kakinada – Samalkot

7.      Secunderabd – Kazipet – Balharshah

8.      Secunderabad – Falaknuma

9.      Renigunta – Tirupathy – Pakala - Katpadi

Microwave

South Central Railway has Digital microwave system on the following routes:

1. Vijayawada - Guntur
2. Guntur - Ongole
3. Ongole - Nellore – Gudur
4. Gudur - Renigunta
5. Secunderabad – Kazipet
6. Kazipet – Sirpur Town

Underground QUAD Cable Communication

Underground quad cable has been introduced in the following sections of South Central Railway:

1. Sanatnagar - Wadi                             
2. Vikarabad - Parli                  
3. Peddapalli - Karimnagar      
4. Vijayawada – Machilipatnam – Gudivada – Bhimavaram - Nidadavolu - Narsapur                                       
5. Kakinada - Kotipalli                         
6. Wadi – Gooty –Dharmavaram
7. Gooty – Renigunta –Gudur
8. Renigunta – Tirupathy – Katpadi
9. Guntakal – Bellary
10. Guntakal – Nandyal
11. Gooty –  Pendekallu
12. Bolarum – Mudkhed – Bodhan
13. Secunderabad –Dhone
14. Mudkhed – Manmad & Mudkhed – Pimpalkutti
15. Parbhani – Parli
16. Nallapadu – Nandyal
17. Tenali -Repalle

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The Signal & Telecom Department provides various passengers amenities for the benefit of travelling public.

Interactive Voice Response System provides reservation status and availability of berths information through BSNL telephone. This has been provided on the following Telephone numbers:

Secunderabad - 1345 & 139, Vijayawada – 136, Guntakal – 1345, Nanded – 131, Guntur – 131, Hyderabad – 1345. 

Public Address System is provided at various stations to announce the arrival & departure of trains and other information required by travelling passengers. This facility is available at 173 stations on this Railways.

Train Arrival Departure Information is provided through Interactive Voice Response System at 56 Stations.

Train Indication Boards are provided for indicating the train timing and platform numbers at 43 important Railway stations.

Platform Clocks are provided at 207 stations on this Railways.

BSNL Telephones have been provided at all 528 Railway stations. 

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RAILNET infrastructure provides Corporate Wide Information System for Indian Railways.  The network connects all the 16 Zones and 6 production units.  All the 6 divisional headquarters i.e Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal & Nanded of South Central Railway are connected to RAILNET. 

Recently, the Headquarter and the divisions have been migrated from leased line point-to-point WAN links to IP MPLS VPN network provided by M/s RailTel Corporation of India Ltd.  The network provides Management Information System, Electronic Data Interchange and enables sharing of information among various units of Railways.  Internet service has been provided through this network.  The HQ network is provided with a Mail Server and a Web Server.