L evel Crossing Safety Management Information System

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

2. 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

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

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

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

6. 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

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

8. Trend of Accidents

9. Trend of LC Accidents

10. Trend of fatalities at LCs

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

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

17. LC Inventory • Unique ID • Location, Physical Characteristics etc.

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

19. Accident / Incident Report • Causes • Circumstances • Contributory Factors • Consequences • Corrective Action

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

21. 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

22. Thanks !