Western Railway will soon integrate artificial intelligence into its Train Management System to improve suburban operations between Churchgate and Virar. The AI-enabled upgrade will feature colour-coded train tracking, delay alarms, advanced video walls and enhanced data storage for smoother services
WR’s control room, where train movement is constantly monitored in real time
Western Railway’s (WR) train management system (TMS) will soon be integrated with artificial intelligence to ensure train operations are smoother and faster. The new system, which is in the tendering stage, will involve colour-coding trains and alarms for delays.
WR operates locals from Churchgate to Virar at peak headways of about three minutes. Instead of relying only on a printed timetable, those sitting behind screens at theWR’s control room monitors the movement of each train through the TMS, which is linked to signalling and traction power supply.
Suburban services run safely and within minutes of schedule because of the decisions taken inside this room, which most passengers will never see. In it, large display panels show which section is occupied, which platform is free and which train is late — ona real-time basis.
Western Railway’s control room, where the movement of trains is monitored in real time. Pic/Rajendra B Aklekar
“We work all the time as trains need to run perpetually. We make decisions and convey them to those on the ground. Disruptions, untoward incidents, and other such things matter. Our job is to keep the system running. At any point, 95 local trains are running on the suburban section,” said a senior official manning the control room.
The good old days
Before the existing system, key stations had to be called up in sequence to keep track of the movement of trains, and once one cycle of calls to all stations was done, another cycle would begin from the opposite direction.
What the control room does when...
Incident: A train is held up near station
Action: Platform congestion is regulated
Incident: A train skips a halt
Action: Pacing is restored between services
Incident: A fast local is delayed
Action: Overtaking rearranged
Incident: A train is short-terminated at Andheri or Borivli railway station
Action: The timetable is protected for the rest of the line
Incident: Sudden delays occur
Action: Train operations are staggered to prevent bunching of services
What the new system entails
>> It will be IP-based. Hence, link failure will be reduced
>> It will be capable for showing different colours for various trains
>> Advanced video wall display for improved visibility
>> Alarm for delayed trains and failure of indicator board at controller’s workstation
>> An increased storage capacity of TMS servers. Historic data can be stored for long periods
How railway disruptions are handled
When problems occur, actions are taken in sequence.
>> Heavy rain: Trains slowed before waterlogged stretch
>> Trespass/fatality: Train controlled till body is cleared
>> Overhead wire trip: Power isolated only in affected section
>> Stalled train in peak hour: Following trains held and diverted to avoid network-wide delays
Teen Sawaal with Western Railway Divisional Railway Manager Pankaj Singh
There is talk of a three-month shutdown of harbour line trains to Goregaon...
The 5th-6th line from Bandra to Borivali is done. Now, the idea is to move south. There is a missing 5th-6th line link between Mahim and Bandra. To build this, we need to demolish the ramp of the harbour line trains for which we will need to shut down harbour line trains beyond Bandra to Andheri-Goregaon. Planning is being done; nothing is finalised. Let’s wait for the final plan.
What are new advances are being taken up?
We are appealing to passengers to form queues and, in a first, have drawn up patterns at Nallasopara station. We are also working on developing the first Carriage & Wagon Control Centre at Nandurbar, which will help train operations. It will assess the condition of trains on the move.
What other activities are taking place?
Monsoon preparations have started, and this year we have beefed up arrangements. We have identified locations and will minimise disruptions.
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