Mumbai Local News: CR upgrades GPS-based signal announcement system to enhance safe train operations

Central Railway (CR) has upgraded the Signal Location Announcement System (SILAS) in EMUs to enhance safe train operations o­n the Mumbai suburban network.

In a major safety initiative the SILAS is being upgraded in the driving cabs of all EMU trains to assist Motormen in error-free train operations.

What is SILAS and how does it work:

Mumbai Suburban is o­ne of the busiest rail networks globally, operating over 2,300 trains daily with automatic signaling system. With most signals spaced just 400-500 meters apart and around 400 signals located o­n Right Hand side / Extreme Right Hand / Left Hand / Extreme Left Hand sides, Motormen work under tremendous pressure, making the system prone to human error. 

SILAS is a GPS-based system that assists Motormen by announcing the signal number of the upcoming signal along with its position — Left/Extreme Left/Right/Extreme Right — based o­n the train’s live location. The system is currently under upgradation across the Mumbai Division.

Key Functionalities:

• Signal Alerts is given by announcing signal number and position 350 meters & 250 meters before approaching the signal.
• Audio alert is given o­n passing a “Yellow” signal, it repeatedly announces “Be careful, next signal is Red” until the next  Green/Double Yellow signal aspect.
• Audio recordings, GPS coordinates, and locations of all signals for each route are pre-loaded in SILAS. The Train Manager selects the appropriate line — Down Local Line(slow line), UP Local Line, Down Through line (fast line), UP Through line , etc. — before starting the trip
• Announcements: Based o­n the journey selected by the Train Manager, it announces the next halt station 500 meters and 250 meters before arrival, e.g., “Next halt: Thane”.(This feature is under development stage and can be modified based o­n reports made during trials).

Salient Features:

• Assistance to Motorman: Provides real-time audio alerts for signals and halt stations, aiding safe train operation.
• Driving Behavior Analysis: Monitors instantaneous speed at critical points like yellow signals, platform entry, PSRs, and neutral sections. This data is used for counseling Motormen to improve safety and driving skills.
• Real-time Train Tracking: Enables live location and speed monitoring of EMU trains for operational control.

Mumbai suburban Motormen perform a ‘Single-man job’ under extremely challenging conditions. SILAS is being upgraded to act as an electronic co-pilot, reducing stress and enhancing safety by ensuring no signal is missed. 

This is a significant step towards Central Railway’s goal of ‘Zero SPAD’ in Mumbai local train operations.