Ahmedabad: Indian Railways is making strides in enhancing train safety with the deployment of the indigenously developed Kavach 4.0 system, and Ahmedabad Railway Division has emerged as a key focus area for its expansion.

Kavach 4.0 is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system equipped with the highest level of safety certification (SIL-4). The system assists loco pilots in maintaining prescribed speed limits, automatically applies brakes if the pilot fails to do so, and ensures safer train operations even during adverse weather. This cutting-edge technology marks a major milestone in Indian Railways’ efforts to modernize safety infrastructure.

Dual-Level Protection

The Kavach system functions at two levels:

• Loco TCAS (Train Collision Avoidance System): Installed in locomotives.
• Station TCAS: Installed at railway stations and along track sections.

This dual mechanism helps prevent accidents such as signal passed at danger (SPAD) incidents, head-on collisions, and rear-end collisions.

Progress in Ahmedabad Division

The Kavach installation drive is progressing swiftly across multiple railway assets:

• Ahmedabad–Geratpur Section (13.42 km): Installation has been completed, making this section fully equipped with Kavach.
• Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhyali Sections (402 RKM): Tenders have been issued, with completion targeted within two years.
• Palanpur–Samakhyali–Gandhidham Section (about 300 RKM): Tenders floated; work expected to finish in two years.

Locomotive Upgrades

• Vatva Loco Shed: Plans are underway to install Kavach on 169 locomotives. Installation has been completed on 23 locomotives, with work in progress on the remaining 146. A dedicated team of 14 trained technicians is overseeing phased implementation.
• Sabarmati Loco Shed: Out of 45 WAG9HC locomotives, successful trials have been completed on 7 locomotives, while installation continues on 38 others. A team of 11 technical experts is engaged in the micro-installation process.

How Kavach Works

Before operation, loco pilots input details such as train type, number of coaches, and load into the LP-OCIP (Loco Pilot’s Operation-cum-Indication Panel) fitted in the engine. Kavach then automatically calculates train length and braking distance, ensuring precise and safe control.

These details were shared by the Ahmedabad division of railways.