Improvements in Railways

Railway is a mass transport facility for goods and people. It can be environment-friendly way of transportation because of number of reasons: 1. Trains can be run by electricity. Even if trains are run by coal or diesel, it is less harmful than aeroplanes. 2. Railways occupy less space on ground as compared to road transport. 3. Mechanised ships on waterways can harm water life.

Let us do following to improve railways around the world. These steps will make railway operations more efficient and safe and environment-friendly:

1.	All railway lines should have same gauge. Broad-gauge lines can carry bigger, heavier and faster trains. So broad-gauge railway lines should be treated as standard gauge. All other gauge railway lines (e.g. Meter gauge, narrow gauge etc.) should be converted into broad-gauge lines.

2.	All level crossings should be removed. Wherever needed, level crossings should be converted to railway over-bridges or underpasses. This will help in smoother and faster flow of traffic on railway lines and thereby increasing the carrying capacity of railway lines. Chances of accidents at level crossings will be removed as well.

3.	All railway lines, including railway bridges should be strengthened on a continuous basis. This will also result in increased carrying capacity of railway tracks.

4.	Railway operations, particularly movement of traffic on railway tracks should be automated. Relying on human interventions should be minimal. This will increase the safety of railway operations and reduce chances of accidents. Where there is risk of human lives, we should not rely on error prone human operations.

5.	We should try railway operations on single or at the most double broad-gauge railway lines. With increased automation, no level-crossings and faster trains on strengthened railway lines, it should be possible to run railways on less number of parallel lines. In case of both single and double lines, overtaking of slow running trains by faster trains should take place at railway stations where there will be parallel railway lines for stationing of trains. In case of single line, crossing of trains coming from opposite directions should also take place at railway stations. Replacing use of multiple railway lines (constructed in parallel) with single or double railway lines will result in considerable saving of land area and costs. High railway bridges can be constructed with single line only. Crossing of trains (from opposite direction) and overtaking of trains (running in same direction) will not take place on bridge section of the railway line. This will help us in reducing the construction and maintenance costs of expensive railway bridges. These types of railways’ traffic movements will require maximum automation. Engine drivers’/Signal men’s roles will be of automation supervisors and coordinators.

6.	Railway lines should not be constructed in forest areas and wild-life reserve areas.
	* End **
	Author: Ajay D. Desai, H-101 Shyam Apartments, Near Balaji Complex, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380015, INDIA.
	E-mail: ajaydesai@ajaydesai.net URL: http://www.sakal.biz
	Date: 2008-2011, 2012: 11/02, 13/05.