Level Crossing Safety Management Information System - R. K. Verma Chief Engineer/ Indian Railways

Introduction The total no. of accidents taking place on Indian Railways (IR) is on a decline. The accidents at level crossings (LCs) are also very low, compared to advance railway systems (0.10 per million of train-kms) Yet, there is a concern due to rising trend of accidents at LCs

Objective To suggest a new approach to improve safety at LCs on IR

Presentation Outline Corporate Safety Plan (2003-13) Trend and Severity of LC accidents Policy for Safety Enhancement Measures Safety Management Information System Conclusion

Corporate Safety Plan (2003-13) Complete elimination of collisions Reduction in derailments by 60% Reduction in fire accidents by 80% By reducing human dependence

Corporate Safety Plan (Contd…) Accidents at LCs – - 16% of total accounting for 46% of total fatalities in the year 2003 Compared to the previous decade, it increased by 23% The plan only aims at arresting the LC accidents at current level

Trend and Severity of LC Accidents During 1996- 2006, LC accidents increased to 22% (from 16%) Total fatalities also increased to 49% (from 46%)

Trend of Accidents

Trend of LC Accidents

Trend of fatalities at LCs

Details of LC accidents During 1997-2007, 85% accidents at unmanned LCs & 15% at manned LCs One LC at every 1.8 km distance Cost of manning of LCs - Rs.2450/- crores as capital cost and Rs. 700 crores per annum as maintenance and operation cost

Details of LC accidents (Contd…) 50% of accidents at manned LCs due to Gates Open /improperly closed or secured 40% of manned LCs are interlocked

Policy for Safety Enhancement Measures Re-classification of LCs as per revised criteria based on TVUs (Train Vehicle Units) Criteria and Priority for manning unmanned LCs based on TVUs, No. of Road Vehicles, Visibility Conditions No manning, if motor vehicles do not ply regularly Priority based on importance of route

Need for Safety Management Information System There exists a definite policy on IR for constn. of grade separators, manning / interlocking of gates. But, fiscal constraints make it imperative to prioritize the safety works more scientifically, i.e. by hazard rating.

Safety Management Information System For hazard rating, a database of LC inventories & past accident history needed Priority of safety enhancement measures decided based on hazard rating

Elements of a Safety Management Information System Up-to-date LC Inventory Accident / Incident Data Safety Performance Index

LC Inventory Unique ID Location, Physical Characteristics etc.

Hazard Rating Rail / Road Traffic Density Visibility Condition Depends on- Rail / Road Traffic Density Visibility Condition Type of Barrier Road Surface Condition Angle of Crossing Gradient of Road Rail / Road Alignment

Accident / Incident Report Causes Circumstances Contributory Factors Consequences Corrective Action

Safety Performance Report No. of Fatalities / Injuries in terms of a rate per million train-kms Evaluate safety enhancement measures

C o n c l u s i o n A new approach based on database of LC Inventories, Accident/Incident Reports & Safety Performance Reports will help in deciding cost- effective safety enhancement measures This approach will bring down the increasing trend of accidents at LCs

Thanks !