Four Years After Adoption: Kavach System Still Far from Complete

Newsreel Asia Insight #301
August 5, 2024

In the span of just 18 days, India’s sprawling rail network has witnessed a distressing series of derailments, with 10 trains veering off the tracks across various regions. These incidents call for urgent conversations about the safety and reliability of a transport system integral to the nation’s daily commute.

A crucial aspect of our discussions on train travel safety is the urgent completion of the Kavach system installation, which enhances the safety and efficiency of train operations by preventing collisions and overseeing speed control.

It can automatically apply brakes if the loco pilot fails to do so, particularly when a signal is overrun or in cases of overspeeding.

Further, the Kavach system shows the same signals that are on the tracks (like stop or go signs) inside the train’s driving area. This is especially helpful when it’s foggy and hard to see outside because it allows the train driver to see these important signals right from their seat, ensuring they can make safe driving decisions even when visibility outside the train is poor.

Furthermore, it regularly checks and reconfirms the permissions for the train’s movements—like how far it can go and how fast. This constant checking helps make sure that the train is always operating safely, following all the rules, and not going beyond the limits set for its journey.

It was formally adopted as India’s national Automatic Train Protection system in July 2020. Four years later, it is operational on only 1,445 km of the total 69,000 km rail network in the country, as reported by NDTV Profit. That’s roughly 2% of India’s rail network.

Based on media reports, here’s the list of the 10 derailment incidents:

On July 18, several bogies of the Dibrugarh Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, resulting in at least four fatalities and around 20 injuries.

On July 21, another derailment occurred, where three wagons of a goods train veered off the tracks in Alwar Yard, Rajasthan, in the early morning hours, though it resulted in no casualties.

On July 26, the railway saw two separate derailments: the first involved the engine of an empty passenger train in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district which derailed after colliding with a fallen tree, injuring the driver.

On the same day, near Bhubaneswar railway station in Odisha, two wagons of a goods train en route to Angul also derailed without causing any injuries.

On July 27, five wagons of a goods train went off the tracks in the yard of Western Railways’ Boisar station, located about 100 km from Mumbai.

On July 29, two bogies of the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express became detached from the other coaches in Bihar’s Samastipur district, fortunately without causing any injuries.

The same day, another goods train derailed in Odisha’s Sambalpur, again without casualties.

On July 30, a Howrah-Mumbai passenger train derailed near Jharkhand’s Chakradharpur division around 3:43 am, tragically resulting in two deaths and injuries to 20 others; a total of 18 coaches were affected.

On July 31, two wagons of a goods train went off the tracks near Rangapani railway station in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, without leading to injuries.

On August 4, the Delhi-Saharanpur MEMU train experienced a derailment during a shunting operation as it approached the Saharanpur railway station yard. The train was empty, ensuring no casualties.