Bengaluru: Railway board sanctions automatic signalling on six major routes at cost of Rs 874 crore

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In a major boost to Bengaluru's rail infrastructure, the Railway board has sanctioned the implementation of Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) on six major routes, totalling a distance of 639 km, at a cost of Rs 874 crore.

The identified routes are: KSR Bengaluru City Yeshwantpur-Yelahanka. (17.75 km), Yeswantpur - Arsikere (160.65 km), Lottegollahalli-Hosur (63.6 km), Whitefield - Jolarpettai (119 km), Byappanahalli - Penukonda via Channasandra (139.8 km) and Bengaluru City - Mysuru (138.25 km)

At present, ABS has been implemented on the KSR Bengaluru City - Whitefield section in South Western Railway's Bengaluru division. A railway line is divided into block sections between stations, with the manual system allowing only one train at a time in a block section. ABS, however, divides it into subsections of 1-2 km, facilitating increased efficiency and frequency of train operations.

South Western Railway, in a statement on February 10, said, "Firstly, it allows for the optimum utilisation of fixed assets such as platforms by ensuring the early clearance of coaching trains from stations. This means that trains can depart promptly, reducing delays and improving overall efficiency."

"Secondly, in sections where line capacity has exceeded 100% and saturation has occurred, the introduction of ABS enables the operation of a greater number of coaching and freight trains," said SWR chief public relations officer Manjunath Kanamadi.

"This helps to meet the growing demand for transportation while maintaining safety standards. Lastly, the average speed of trains can be enhanced as block sections are cleared faster, allowing for smoother and more efficient travel." he said.

Anticipating a significant increase in both passenger and freight traffic, Kanamadi emphasised that the ABS project aims to boost line capacity significantly. "This enhancement will enable the seamless operation of additional trains at shorter intervals, addressing the growing demands of commuters, freight traffic, and fostering economic development in the region" said Kanamadi.

"This would enhance considerable throughput and hence the number of trains to and fro from the Bengaluru area to all directions, viz., towards Chennai, Mysuru, Hubballi, and Hyderabad. ABS is a pivotal step towards modernising and optimising rail infrastructure, ensuring a more efficient and robust transportation network," he added.

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