The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : They have to be on the right track, always

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

They have to be on the right track, always

M. L. Melly Maitreyi

The control office of the railways does the juggling act - keeping one eye on late-running trains and the other on punctual ones

EVER ALERT: A railway employee gives instructions to station masters about the train movements at the control room in Railway Nilayam. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Ever wondered who ensures that hundreds of trains criss-crossing various stations reach their destinations safely? How does a late running train manage to arrive on time? How do goods trains with no fixed allotment of lines still reach their destination on dot?

Awesome communication network, perfect planning and coordination among various technical wings of a railway division, make it possible. Compared to the hectic activity in railway stations, a contrasting quiet greets one at the control office, the nerve centre for smooth movement of trains - passenger and freight.

V. Tyagaraj, a section controller, in Operating department of Secunderabad division of South Central Railway is intently monitoring the computer screen charting the movement of trains under his jurisdiction of 160 km.

Message to stations

His concern is to keep track of paths of different trains passing through 26 stations under his control. He has a problem with an Express train running four hours late before it entered his jurisdiction. Quickly assessing the situation and movement of other trains, he sends a message to keep the main line clear for the late running train to gain some time.

"It's like a relay service. Each section controller does his best until a train crosses his jurisdiction and goes to the next section and the next," he says.

Based on the Master Chart, the path, arrivals and departures of trains are monitored and instructions given through phone to the originating, destination stations besides intervening stations. Before a train is brought to the platform, security and safety aspects are checked including passenger amenities.

The section controllers' job is an intensive six-hour one, calling for focussed attention and working in shifts round the clock. They should also possess cool nerves and experience to handle any situation, at times calling for instant decisions, explains an official.

Like Tyagaraj controlling Kondapally-K.Samudram section, five other section controllers in the division keep track of trains. SCR zone has six divisions with many such sections to monitor its route length.

Punctuality rate

It is at the Control office, headed by Chief Controller, officers of commercial control, security, traction, engineering besides traffic control, take all factors into consideration from condition of track to trains. In case of unusual events like accidents, floods, action starts here to rush relief vans and cranes and divert trains through other lines. The teamwork reflects on a division's performance. Secunderabad with 1,350 route km and 200 passenger and 225 freight trains does well with 98 per cent punctuality rate.

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