Signal & Telecommunications Department
1.Role
Signal &Telecommunication department plays a vital role in Safe and Punctual running of trains at maximum permissible speed and productive utilization of Track, Rolling Stock (Coaches & Wagons), Locomotives and Manpower deployed in train operation by making the Signalling and Control communication systems available 24x7. The department contributes towards the passengers’ security and satisfaction by providing Surveillance and Audio – Visual Passenger Information systems at stations. Detailed role in the field of Signalling and telecommunication is as under.
1.1 Signalling
vProvision and maintenance of Train Movement Control system at stations and between the stations for Safe & Punctual train running.
vOptimum utilization of line capacity
vManufacturing of specified signaling items in workshops
vIn house Training of staff and supervisors
1.2 Telecommunication
vProvision and maintenance of Passenger Information System (Train and Coach Information Boards and Public Address and Announcement systems).
vProvision and maintenance of Video Surveillance System at station, Ticket Counters and Reservation Counters to enable the Passengers’ Security in railway premises.
vProvision and Maintenance of Telecommunication infrastructure for:
ØVoice and Data communication among offices and work centers
ØDriver, Guard and Station Master wireless communication
ØAccident site communication through satellite
ØPassenger Reservation System (PRS)
ØUnreserved Ticketing System (UTS)
ØFreight Operation Information System (FOIS)
ØParcel Management System (PMS)
ØCrew Management System (CMS)
ØCoaching Operating Information System(COIS)
ØManagement Information System(MIS)
ØManagement of Railways Corporate Wide Information System (RAILNET)
ØFree internet through Wi-Fi at stations
1.3 Organisation:
| vPrincipal Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer (PCSTE) is the head of the Signal and Telecommunication Department in the zonal railway for all matters in the department. . vChief Signal Engineer (CSE) and Chief Communication Engineer (CCE) assist PCSTE on signalling and telecommunication policy matters. vChief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer (Planning) assist PCSTE on signalling plans, design and drawings of signalling infrastructures. vHe is further supported by Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer (Projects) and Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer (Construction) for execution of signalling and telecommunication works in the field. vSenior Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineers (Sr. DSTEs) are the heads of the S&T department at divisional level vDy. Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer (Dy. CSTEs) are the field unit heads for execution of S&T works. |
1.4 System Overview:
At a Glance:
| S. No. | Description | Population (Nos.) (as on 31.01.2024) |
| A | Signalling |
|
| 1 | Total Block Stations | 596 |
| 1.1 | Panel Interlocking (PI) | 324 |
| 1.2 | Route Relay Interlocking (RRI) | 04 |
| 1.3 | Electronic Interlocking (EI) | 266 |
| 1.4 | Others | 02 |
| 2 | Total Block Sections | 629 |
| 3 | Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) in Block sections | 22 block sections |
| 3.1 | AutomaticBlockSignalling (ABS) in length | 137 Route Km |
| 4 | Block Sections with Intermediate Block Signaling (IBS) | 140 |
| 5 | Block Stations with Double Distant Signals | 265 |
| 6 | Block Sections with Block Proving Digital Axle Counters | 573 |
| 7 | Level Crossing Gates (Manned) | 1205 |
| 7.1 | Interlocked LC Gates | 796 |
| 7.2 | Non- Interlocked LC Gates | 409 |
| 8 | Stations with LED Signals | 596 |
| 9 | Stations with Integrated Power Supply (IPS) systems | 594 |
| 9.1 | Stations with Solar Panel based Power Supply systems | 142 |
| 9.2 | Level Crossing Gates with Solar Panel based Power Supply systems | 136 |
| 10 | Dataloggers | |
| 10.1 | Stations with Dataloggers | 594 |
| 10.2 | Intermediate Block Signals with Dataloggers | 140 |
| 10.3 | Level Crossing Gates with Dataloggers | 385 |
| 11 | Electric Point Machines at stations | 9538 |
| 12 | DC Track Circuits at station (locations) | 8816 |
| 14 | Block Instruments | |
| 14.1 | Solid State Electronic Block instrument | 61 Block Sections |
| 14.2 | Block Panels with Digital Axle Counters | 258 Block Sections |
| 14.3 | SGE Double Line Block Instruments | 233 Block Sections |
| 14.4 | Twin Single Line Daido Block Instruments in double line | 03 Block Sections |
| 14.4 | Single Line IRS Block Instruments | 05 Block Sections |
| 14.4 | Single Line Daido Block Instruments | 35 Block Sections |
| 15 | Automatic Train Protection System by means of Indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) | 350 + 1200 Route Km. |
| 15.1 | Station Equipped with Automatic Train Protection System by means of Indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) | 102 |
| 15.2 | Locomotives Equipped with Automatic Train Protection System by means of Indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) | 149 |
| 15.3 | Level Crossing Gates Equipped with Automatic Train Protection System / Approach Warning System | 178 |
| B | Telecommunication |
|
| 1 | Stations Equipped with Passengers Information Systems | |
| 1.1 | Train Indication Boards | 135 |
| 1.2 | Coach Indication Boards | 107 |
| 1.3 | Public Address system | 435 |
| 1.4 | GPS/ Digital clocks | 380 |
| 1.5 | Wi-Fi facility for Internet access | 587 |
| | Rail Madad helpline - 139 provided for Passengers enquiry for General Complaints, Security issues etc. | |
| 2 | Stations Equipped with Passengers Security Systems | |
| 2.1 | CCTV based Surveillance Systems | 58 |
| 3 | Stations Equipped with Passengers Amenities | |
| 3.1 | Passenger Reservation Systems (PRS) Locations | 159 |
| 3.2 | Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)Locations | 366 |
| 3.3 | Unified Ticketing CounterLocations | 181 |
| 4 | Voice and Data Communication Systems | |
| 4.1 | 25 Watt VHF sets at stations/ locations for Train Traffic wireless Communication | 657 |
| 4.2 | Quad Cablebased communication system for Block, Level Crossing gate, Emergency Communication | 6529 RKms. |
| 4.3 | Optical Fibre cable(OFC)based communication system | 6362 RKms. |
| 4.4 | BSNL Telephones at Way Stations | 403 |
| 4.5 | FWP/FCT Telephones at Way Stations | 156 |
| 4.6 | Railway Telephone Exchanges for Inter and Intra Railway Internal communication | 115 |
| 4.7 | V-SAT Communication for Accident Relief Trains (ARTs) | 6 |
| 4.8 | Satellite Phones for Accident Relief Trains and Accident Relief Medical Vans | 26 |
| 4.9 | V-SAT Communication for Weigh Bridges, PRS, UTS and FOIS applications | 8 |
| 4.10 | Communication Backbone for Freight Operation Information System (FOIS) locations | 265 |
| 4.11 | Communication Backbone for Parcel Management System (PMS) locations | 18 |
A Glimpse of Modern S&T Equipment’s over the Zone.
1. Panel Interlocking (PI):
Relay based Panel interlocking is a signalling system, which assures the best standard of safety and eliminates the accidents arising out of human errors and provided for smaller station yards.
2.Route Relay Interlocking (RRI)
Route Relay Interlocking is provided at major junctions and yards, where large numbers of train movements are required and available at four major junctions’ yards, viz. Vijayawada Jn., Kazipet Jn., Secunderabad Jn. and Dornakal Jn. in South Central Railway.
3.Electronic Interlocking (EI)
South Central Railway has adopted the high reliability state of art of interlocking technology in the form of computer controlled interlocking and the first system was commissioned at Kavali station on Vijayawada division on 10.07.1994.
4.Safety at Level Crossing Gates:
Level Crossing Gates in the station area and important gates in the block section are controlled by the signals. Such gates are called interlocked LC gates and enhance safety of the road users as well as trains. Telephone communication at level crossing gates is a safety tool to ensure the closure and opening of gates at appropriate time.
5.LED Based Signals:
High reliability LED Signals give advanced information of section ahead to the driver for appropriate control of the train.
6.Train Collision Avoidance System:
