“Kavach” Automatic Train Protection System

Context

Recently, the Indian Railways tested the 'Kavach'-Automatic Train Protection System by making two trains move towards each other at full speed.

• Kavach, this indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection System is earmarked for aggressive rollout on 2,000 km in 2022-23, according the Budget proposals.

What is Kavach?

• It is India’s very own automatic protection system in development since 2012, under the name Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which got rechristened Kavach or “armour”.
• Simply put, it is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well the tracks.
• They connect to each other using ultra high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.
• While now Kavach uses Ultra High Frequency, work is on to make it compatible with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and make the product for global markets.
• In the new avatar, India wants to position Kavach as an exportable system, a cheaper alternative to the European systems in vogue across the world.
• So far, Kavach has been deployed on over 1,098 km and 65 locomotives in ongoing projects of the South Central Railway.
• In future it will be implemented on 3000 km of the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors where the tracks and systems are being upgraded to host a top speed of 160 kmph.

Key-features

• One of its features is that by continuously refreshing the movement information of a train, it is able to send out triggers when a loco pilot jumps signal, called Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD).
• The devices also continuously relay the signals ahead to the locomotive, making it useful for loco pilots in low visibility, especially during dense fog.
• It includes the key elements from already existing, and tried and tested systems like the European Train Protection and Warning System, and the indigenous Anti Collison Device.
• It will also carry features of the high-tech European Train Control System Level-2 in future.
• The current form of Kavach adheres to the highest level of safety and reliability standard called Safety Integrity Level 4.
• SIL comes from two voluntary standards used by plant owners/operators to quantify safety performance requirements for hazardous operations.
• There are four SIL Levels (1-4). A higher SIL Level means a greater process hazard and a higher level of protection required.
• Work is on to make the system such that it can be compatible with other already installed systems globally.

Significance

• The Kavach system will help prevent accidents on rail tracks like collision of trains.
• Once the system is activated, all trains within a 5-km range will halt to provide protection for trains on adjacent tracks.
• Currently, the loco-pilots or assistant loco-pilots have to look out for caution signs and signals.
• It will only cost Rs 50 lakh per kilometer to operate in comparison to about Rs 2 crore worldwide.
• It will also include stationary equipment to gather signalling inputs and relay them to a central system to enable seamless communication with the train crew and stations.