Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express to get SOS systems by March 2019

Indian Railways and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have collaborated to usher in a new age of rail technology. Passengers will be able to track the movement of moving premium trains and for motormen to send distress signals during emergencies.

The Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) — an organisation of the Indian railways — along with ISRO is planning to install Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and SOS systems in locomotives, starting with premium trains including Rajdhani and Shatabdi. By March 2019, the first set is likely to be installed. 

Under the Real-Time Information System (RTIS) project, passengers will be able to track a moving train through a National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and related mobile applications. With the help of this system, motormen will be able to send distress signals. 

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In the first phase, the system will be introduced in premium outstation trains, the second phase would have all superfast outstations trains, the third phase will have the system in other passenger trains and goods trains.

According to the railway board, the system will be installed in 2,835 locomotives. The overall cost of the project will be ₹100 crore with ₹ 88.95 crore to install these devices.