Kochi: The Southern Railway is fast upgrading the signalling system at stations and installing intermediate block systems (IBS) at various sections in the Thiruvananthapuram division so as to enhance train handling capacity by June 2016.
“In view of the rising train traffic, the existing relay-based systems are being upgraded to microprocessor-based electronic interlocking systems.
As on date, the work has been completed at Ernakulam Town, Piravam Road, Chengannur, Guruvayur, Cheppad and Haripad stations. We’re upgrading signalling system at six more stations – Ernakulam Jn, Angamali, Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara, Tiruvalla and Ambalappuzha-- in 2015-16,” said Mr Khemraj Meena, public relations officer.
Last year, the railway also installed intermediate block signals (IBS) at nine sections – Thiruvananthapuram-Kochuveli, Murukkumpuzha-Kadakkavur, Varkala-Paravoor, Kollam-Perinad, Perinad- Sasthamkotta, Angamaly-Aluva, Chalakudy-Karukutty, Irinjalakuda-Puthukkad and Vallathol Nagar- Vadakkancherry.
“Setting up of the IBS is the preliminary step to installing automatic block signals (ABS) , which will help in increasing line capacity in a selected section from an average four trains per hour to 10 trains. This is vital as the railway lines through the state are currently saturated and the doubling work on the coastal route and the Kottayam section is facing inordinate delay,” said Mr C. Raju, former chief engineer of Konkan Railway.
The railway is also planning to upgrade the interlocking standard of Neyyattinkara, Eraniel and Kuzhithurai railway stations in 2015-16.
“The initiatives will help in more trains travelling through a particular section at a given period and hence the passenger services and timely running of trains could be ensured to a great extent,” the railway official said.
Meanwhile, the All-Kerala Railway Users Association would stage a protest in Ernakulam on June 5 against the inordinate delay in completing the doubling works in the Piravom Road-Chengannur, Kuruppanthara-Chingavanam and Alappuzha-Ernakulam sections.
