Train Operations – Railway GK Compendium

1. Definition & Scope

Train Operations encompass the entire gamut of activities required to move a rake from origin to destination safely, punctually and economically.
Key sub-systems:

• Running & Marshalling
• Signalling & Control
• Traction & Power
• Rolling-stock & Brake Systems
• Traffic Control & Crew Management
• Yards & Sidings
• Disaster & Emergency Handling

2. Technical Fundamentals

• Brake percentage: Freight 80 % (empty), 50 % (loaded); Mail/Express 100 %.
• Brake power certificate (BPC) validity: 24 h for passenger, 5500 km for freight.
• Minimum headway with automatic block: 4 min (130 km/h), 3 min (160 km/h).
• Standard signal overlap: 180 m (BG), 120 m (MG).

3. Historical Milestones

4. Current Status & Recent Updates (2023-24)

• Kavach: 3,000 km route covered; target 34,000 km by 2030.
• Automatic Train Operation (ATO): Under trials on Delhi-Agra section.
• Push-pull configuration: 180 trains approved to save turnaround time.
• End-of-Train Telemetry (EOTT): 10,000 freight wagons fitted; obviates guard brake van.
• Long-haul freight trains (2×2.7 km): “Anaconda” trains ply on EDFC.
• Real-time train information: National Train Enquiry System (NTES) upgraded to 30-sec refresh.
• Digital OHE: 3-tier OHE design adopted for 250 km/h (future bullet).
• Solar panelled rake: 1.5 kW per coach – saves 0.6 lakh litres diesel/year.
• Weightometer & IT-enabled weigh bridges: 100 % coverage by 2025.
• **Railway Board merged 8 services into Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) under cadre restructuring.

5. Operational Terminology (Must Remember)

• Book speed: Permitted sectional speed printed in Working Time Table (WTT).
• Signal passed at danger (SPAD): Category-A (stop signal) & B (caution) – 3 & 1 day suspension respectively.
• Railway working rules: GR (General), SR (Sub), SS (Special), WR (Work).
• Station sections: Block section, Reception line, Running line, Through line, Sick line.
• Train classification: 0-4 Mail/Express, 5-7 Passenger, 8-9 Goods; 14-19 EMU/DMU.
• Load classification: CC+6 (full), CC+8 (summer), CC-2 (winter) for passenger.
• Penalty brake application: 0.8 bar BP drop in <3 s triggers emergency.
• Calling-on signal: Permits entry at 15 km/h when line is occupied.
• Shunting limit board: Yellow disc with “SL” – 30 m from fouling mark.
• Engine on load (EOL): >90 % of booked load – ideal for energy efficiency.

6. Freight vs Passenger Operations – Quick Facts

7. Safety Statistics 2022-23

• Consequential train accidents: 22 (lowest ever).
• Derailments: 11 (50 % of total).
• Collisions: 3.
• Fire: 1.
• Manned level crossing accidents: 0 (after 2020 closure drive).
• Unmanned level crossing accidents: 0 (phase-out completed 2022).
• Train parting incidents: 18 (freight).
• SPAD cases: 51 (against 76 previous year).

8. Crew & Control Organisation

• Running staff categories: Loco pilot (mail/goods), assistant loco pilot, guard (goods/pass), shunter.
• Footplate hours: Max 12 h continuous, 36 h in 4 days, 132 h in 14 days.
• LP licence categories: A-1 (mail), A-2 (pass), B (goods), C (shunt).
• Control offices: 69 divisional, 16 zonal, 1 national (CRIS).
• Train management system (TMS): GPS feed updates every 30 s.
• Crew lobby: Must report 1 h before departure for medical & breathalyser.

9. Energy & Traction Highlights

• All-India electrification: 86 % RKm (Mar-24).
• Head-on-generation (HOG): Saves 3.5 lakh L diesel/train/year.
• Regenerative braking: 35 % energy feedback in 3-phase locos.
• Energy consumption: 46 kWh/000 GTKM (freight), 18 kWh/000 PKM (pass).
• Highest OHE: 10.5 m (double-stack container on WDFC).
• OHE voltage: 25 kV ±10 %, 50 Hz, 300 A catenary rating.

10. 15+ MCQs for Quick Practice

Question:01 What is the maximum permissible speed of Rajdhani Express on existing track without cab signalling?

A) 110 km/h
B) 120 km/h
C) 130 km/h
D) 140 km/h

Question:02 Which brake system is presently mandatory for all newly manufactured freight stock?

A) Vacuum brake (single pipe)

B) Air brake (single pipe)

C) Air brake (twin pipe)

D) Electro-pneumatic brake

Question:03 The validity of a Brake Power Certificate (BPC) for a goods train is

A) 6,000 km or 45 days, whichever is earlier

B) 5,500 km or 1 month, whichever is earlier

C) 5,000 km or 30 trips, whichever is earlier

D) 6,500 km or 2 months, whichever is earlier

Question:04 What is the Indian Railways’ recommended minimum curve radius for a Broad-Gauge (BG) track to safely operate trains at 160 km/h?

A) 250 m

B) 350 m

C) 400 m

D) 500 m

Question:05 Which of the following is NOT a category of running staff?

A) Loco Pilot

B) Guard

C) Controller

D) Train Manager

Question:06 [The first 25 kV AC traction section in Indian Railways was]

A) Howrah–Burdwan (ER) 1958
B) Raj Kharswan–Dongoposi (SER) 1960
C) Vijayawada–Gudur (SCR) 1961
D) Igatpuri–Bhusaval (CR) 1959

Question:07 The term “SPAD” in railway working denotes

A) Signal Passed At Danger

B) Speed Permit After Detection

C) Safety Protocol Against Derailment

D) Station Platform Arrival Delay

Question:08 How many derailments were reported on Indian Railways during 2022-23?

A) 9

B) 10

C) 11

D) 12

Question:09 [Which of the following is the longest passenger train service (in terms of distance) run by Indian Railways?]

A) Kerala Express (Thiruvananthapuram–New Delhi)

B) Vivek Express (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari)

C) Himsagar Express (Kanyakumari–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra)

D) Guwahati–Thiruvananthapuram Express

Question:10 End-of-Train Telemetry (EOTT) replaces which rolling stock component?

A) Locomotive headlight

B) Brake van & guard

C) Under-frame battery box

D) Vacuum exhausters

Question:11 What is the standard overlap distance provided beyond a stop signal on Broad Gauge (BG)?

A) 120 m
B) 140 m
C) 160 m
D) 180 m

Question:12 Which locomotive class is approved for 160 km/h operation on Indian Railways?

A) WAP-4, WAP-6 & WAG-7

B) WAP-5, WAP-7 & WAG-9H (with modified gear)

C) WDM-3A, WDP-4 & WDG-4

D) WAP-1, WAG-5 & WAG-9

Question:13 The energy returned to the grid by regenerative braking in a 3-phase electric locomotive is approximately

A) 15 %

B) 25 %

C) 35 %

D) 45 %

Question:14 [The minimum continuous rest for goods running staff under HOER is]

A) 12 hours

B) 14 hours

C) 16 hours

D) 18 hours

Question:15 The first trial run of the semi-high-speed Train-18 (Vande Bharat) was conducted between which stations?

A) New Delhi–Mumbai Central
B) New Delhi–Agra Cantt.
C) New Delhi–Chennai Central
D) New Delhi–Howrah

Question:16 As on 31 March 2024, the approximate percentage of total route kilometres electrified on Indian Railways is

A) 76 %

B) 81 %

C) 86 %

D) 91 %

Question:17 Which section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor was the first to become operational under the Gati-Shakti plan?

A) New Rewari–New Madar
B) New Khurja–New Dadri
C) New Palanpur–New Samakhiali
D) New Phulera–New Marwar

End of chapter – revise & practice MCQs to strengthen your Railway GK for all RRB exams!