Kavach (train protection system)
The timing data is confirmed by a GPS satellite link, while the location and direction are measured by an odometer that resets itself whenever the train passes over an RFID tag.
Some of the track-fitted RFID tags are used for additional purposes, such as to communicate an upcoming signal, level crossing, or the train's entry and exit from a Kavach-covered area.
The radio towers used by the Kavach for communication are installed alongside the tracks, aligned with the lineside signalling equipment and railway stations, and are deployed at a regular interval of 1–5 km, depending on the overall terrain.
[9] Primarily, Kavach works on the principle of continuous supervision of the movement authority and is designed to maintain train speed within the specified limits and can automatically apply brakes to slow down or to bring the train to a complete standstill, in case the Loco Pilots violates the speed restrictions or fails to act in time to prevent Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD); thereby reducing the risks of collision in block sections and on running lines at stations.
It automatically blows horn when approaching a Level crossing and manual SOS function which would trigger emergency brakes of all nearby trains.
During the early twenty-first century, Indian Railways became increasingly interested in deploying automatic train protection (ATP) upon its existing mixed-traffic routes.
These requirements included the prevention of instances of Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD), collision prevention, in-cab signalling, automatic whistling at level crossings, intelligent real-time health monitoring, and to facilitate substantial speed and capacity increases for both freight and passenger operations.
[9] A further key target to be pursued in part via the addition of ATP is the Indian Railways’ ambition to achieve a zero accident rate.
It is an Open architecture system, as there was an explicit requirement for it to be interoperable between multiple vendors unlike in the case of Anti-Collision Device (ACD).
[9] During 2014, the deployment of an initial trial system along a 265 km section of line commenced, upon with the first real world evaluations of Kavach were performed.
[14] Final approval of the system was issued in 2019, permitting the training of railway employees on Kavach ahead of the formal rollout and commencement of operations.
[2][8][15][16] On 4 March 2022, a high-profile live demonstration of Kavach was conducted between Gullaguda and Chitgidda railway stations in Secunderabad Division.
It successfully detected that both locomotives were on the same track and responded by automatically applying the brakes on both trains, thus averting an impending collision.
During the trial, the Vande Bharat was travelling at s speed of 160 kmph and the system could stop the train 10 m before the red signal without the loco pilot applying brakes.
[19] In March 2024, Italian certification and inspection service provider Italcertifer S.p.A. [it] conducted a four-day independent safety assessment trial of the Kavach system installed between Mathura and Palwal section in the Agra Division, under the supervision of Kush Gupta, Deputy Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer of NCR.
The train travelling at the speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) stopped just before 50 m (160 ft) before a red signal without human interference in the braking system.
It receives information from signalling and interlocking systems and generates messages that are relayed to the locomotive by the Radio Unit in real-time.
It is used for retrieving remote signalling functions like from the End Cabins, Distributed Interlocking systems, Level Crossings, Intermediate Block Sections coming within the coverage area of the station's radio tower.
DMI also known as the Loco Pilot-Operation Cum Indication Panel (LP-OCIP), consists of a colour TFT touchscreen display and buttons.
A central server in the Division Control Room logs all relayed information and radio packets exchanged between stations and locomotives, which are made accessible through the NMS.
KMS is deployed on a secure internet server, and Loco-Kavach units periodically request these keys for radio communication.
Other firms that have been vying for the approval to be vendors are– GGTronics, Quadrant Future Tek, Areca Embedded Systems, Lotus Wireless Technologies and the state-owned BHEL.
[28] KEC International and RailTel have partnered with Kernex Microsystems and Quadrant FutureTek respectively as 'system integrator' for rapid deployment of Kavach system.
[29][30][31][32] As of September 2024, the Kavach technology of RailTel – Quadrant FutureTek partnership has been cleared by Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO).
[36] Indian commentators have claimed that had Kavach been deployed at the site of the 2023 Odisha train collision that the system would have prevented the accident from occurring.
