Railway Safety Features
Railway Safety Features – Quick Capsule for RRB NTPC/Group-D/ALP
1. Overview
Indian Railways carries 2.3 crore passengers & 3.1 MT freight daily. Safety is therefore built-in through engineering, signalling, rolling-stock design and emergency-response protocols codified in the “Indian Railways Safety Manual” (2020 edition) and “RSMS” (Railway Safety Management System-2022).
2. 20 Must-Know Facts (One-liners)
- ABS – Automatic Brake System; applies brakes automatically if driver exceeds 10 km/h over permitted speed.
- TPWS – Train Protection & Warning System (first on 130 km/h + routes); enforces speed & stop signals.
- KAVACH – Indigenous ATP (Automatic Train Protection) developed by RDSO; SIL-4 safety integrity level.
- RAS – Route Relay Interlocking (prevents conflicting points & signals).
- Electronic Interlocking (EI) – Software-based interlocking; reduces human error.
- Data-Logger – Continuous track-side recorder; sends SMS alerts to section controller.
- LC Gate Interlocking – 100 % of ‘A’ class manned gates interlocked by 2024.
- TFO/TCAS – Train Collision Avoidance System (earlier name of Kavach).
- Fog-PASS Device – GPS-based hand-held equipment for loco pilots in winter.
- Hot-Box Detection System (HBDS) – Infrared scanners on track detect overheated axle bearings.
- Wheel Impact Load Detector (WILD) – Identifies flat wheels; auto-sends SMS to depot.
- Rail Flaw Detection (USFD) Trolley – Ultrasonic testing of rails every 90 days on high-density routes.
- BSL & BFI – Breathing Space Length & Buffer Stop Installation at dead-end platforms.
- CCTV-ICMS – 55,000 coaches to get IP-based CCTV under “Nirbhaya Fund”.
- Fire & Smoke Detection (FDS) – Mandatory in all AC coaches since 2022.
- HVAC Isolation Switch – Auto-cuts power on fire detection in AC coaches.
- Anti-Climbing Feature – Couplers & buffer skirts prevent telescoping during collision.
- Roll-Stock Standard – 160 mm ground clearance for under-gear equipment to avoid hitting track objects.
- Emergency Chain/Alarm Chain Switch (ACS) – Passenger operated; activates 5 km/h auto-brake.
- GAG (Gate Alarm & Gateman) Order – Gateman must phone station master 2 min before each train.
3. Important Points (Exam Hot-Spots)
- KAVACH coverage target: 3,000 km (Golden Quadrilateral) by 2025-26.
- SIL-4 means probability of failure ≤ 10⁻⁹ per hour – highest safety integrity.
- RDSO – Research Designs & Standards Organisation (Lucknow) is nodal R&D unit for safety devices.
- Safety Category of Stations: ‘A’ (≥ 1.5 lakh revenue/day), ‘B’, ‘C’; maximum safety gadgets deployed at ‘A’.
- Block-Proving by Axle Counters (BPAC) replaced last-vehicle board on 85 % of sections.
- IBS – Integrated Bridge Management System; inspects 15,000+ rail bridges.
- DERA – Divisional Emergency Reserve Ambulance train kept at each division.
- RSC – Rail Safety Campaign (2023-24) eliminated 1,000 unmanned LC gates.
- Penalty for passenger pulling chain without valid reason: ₹ 1,000 + jail up to 1 year (under Railway Act 1989 sec. 141).
- “Zero Timetable Change” rule – Safety blocks must not delay passenger trains by > 5 min.
4. Frequently Asked Aspects in Previous RRB Papers
- Full-forms of TPWS, Kavach, ABS, EI, HBDS, WILD, USFD, BPAC.
- Difference between Train Collision Avoidance System & Train Protection Warning System.
- Which device is GPS-based for fog? (Ans. Fog-PASS)
- Which organisation developed Kavach? (RDSO)
- Safety integrity level of Kavach? (SIL-4)
- Under which fund is CCTV in coaches financed? (Nirbhaya Fund)
- Penalty section for alarm chain misuse. (Sec. 141)
- Frequency of USFD testing of rails. (90 days)
- What activates auto-brake when driver over-speeds? (ABS)
5. 10 MCQs for Quick Practice
Use the drop-down to self-check. Negative marking not applied here!
Question:01 The indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system commissioned by Indian Railways is known as
A) Raksha
B) Kavach
C) Suraksha
D) Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Kavach is the indigenously developed ATP system of Indian Railways, designed to prevent Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD) and automatically apply brakes if required.
Question:02 Which safety device uses infrared sensors to detect overheated axle bearings?
A) Wheel Impact Load Detector (WILD)
B) Hot-Box Detection System (HBDS)
C) Axle Counter System
D) Track Circuit Device
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Hot-Box Detection System (HBDS) employs infrared sensors positioned trackside to monitor the temperature of axle bearings in real time; any abnormal rise triggers an alarm, preventing potential derailments.
Question:03 The highest safety integrity level (SIL) achieved by Kavach is
A) SIL-2
B) SIL-3
C) SIL-4
D) SIL-5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Kavach has been certified to Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4), the highest level defined under CENELEC standards for railway signalling systems, indicating an extremely low probability of dangerous failures.
Question:04 Fog-PASS device works on the principle of
A) RFID-based axle counting
B) Ultrasonic track defect mapping
C) GPS-based navigation assistance
D) LiDAR-based obstacle detection
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Fog-PASS (Fog Pilot Assistance System for Safety) uses GPS data to give loco pilots real-time location, speed and route guidance in foggy conditions, ensuring safe train operation.
Question:05 Which of the following is NOT a function of TPWS?
A) Automatic train braking on passing a danger signal
B) Prevention of train overspeeding in permanent speed restriction areas
C) Automatic ticket checking
D) Prevention of signal passing at danger during adverse conditions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: TPWS (Train Protection & Warning System) is designed to apply brakes automatically if a train passes a red signal or exceeds speed limits; it does not handle ticket checking, which is the role of automatic fare collection systems.
Question:06 Under which section of the Railways Act, 1989 is the penalty imposed for improper use of the alarm chain?
A) Section 140
B) Section 141
C) Section 142
D) Section 143
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Section 141 of the Railways Act, 1989 prescribes the penalty for improper use of the alarm chain provided in trains.
Question:07 The nodal organisation for development of Kavach is
A) CORE
B) RDSO
C) IRCTC
D) CRIS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is the nodal agency responsible for the development of the indigenous train collision avoidance system ‘Kavach’.
Question:08 How often is USFD testing of rails prescribed on high-density routes?
A) Every 30 days
B) Every 60 days
C) Every 90 days
D) Every 120 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: On high-density routes, Indian Railways mandates Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails at an interval of every 90 days to ensure early detection of defects and safe train operations.
Question:09 Which fund is used to finance the installation of CCTV cameras in Indian Railways passenger coaches?
A) Swachh Bharat Kosh
B) Railway Safety Fund
C) Nirbhaya Fund
D) Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Nirbhaya Fund, established in 2013, is specifically allocated for women safety projects across India, including the installation of CCTV cameras in passenger coaches of Indian Railways.
Question:10 What does BPAC stand for in signalling terminology?
A) Block Proving by Audio Circuits
B) Block Proving by Axle Counters
C) Block Protection and Control
D) Brake Power Assurance Circuit
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: BPAC stands for Block Proving by Axle Counters, a signalling system that uses axle-counter equipment to verify that a block section is clear before granting line-clear authority.
Keep revising these snippets; 3-4 questions every year in RRB NTPC/Group-D directly match the above facts. Stay safe, study safe!
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