Train as a Sensor ---- Part 1 Protecting Rail Networks from Naxals Attacks

Naxal Attacks

Kothavalasa–Kirandul line?(KK Line) is the heart of the Waltair railway division ?of?the East Coast Railway zone passing through 3 states, i.e., Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The dedicated KK line transports iron ore.?Dantewada, a district in the State of Chhattisgarh, India, is an epicenter for Naxalite's attacks on the KK line. Trains derailment have been recurrent in the series, and a new season is released every year. The Naxalites have gained exceptional proficiency in damaging the rail and uprooting and removing the complete track. The well-planned and executed attacks are the majority on a goods train, thereby avoiding harm to passengers’ lives. The objective is only the nation’s collateral and revenue damage. At times the Pilot or Engine driver taken into custody by the Naxals is safely released to the nearby station.

REVENUE LOSS

The annual revenue of the KK line is Rs. 7972 Crores (USD 10 Billion approx.), and the profit earned is more than Rs. 3000 Cr. A single-day breakdown on the network costs more than Rs. 5 Cr. to the exchequer. Such frequent attacks by the supporters of Maoist Political sentiments and ideology disrupt the railway network and result in heavy losses.

The Challenge

The Divisional Railway Manager of West Coast Railways, Vishakhapatnam, approached the CATS research team headed by eminent scientist Dr. Rao Tatavarti with the following challenging questions.

1.??????Can we detect any damage on rail 10 to 15 km ahead of the fast running train?

2.??????Can we discriminate the signature when the rail is vandalised or attempted to be sabotaged?

3.??????Can we detect the signature if the track is fractured/broken due to natural wear and tear?

4.??????How fast can we detect the signatures?

5.??????What are the strategies and tactics to be adopted vis-à-vis the problem of broken rails??

The advent of VIDUR – The Star is Born.

In 20 days, a breakthrough Invention was pioneered in Sensing Ubiquitous Vibrations & Rayleigh Scatter & Waves using Laser Light as a medium. This innovative photonic sensing technology was called VIDUR (Vibration Intelligence Data Unravelling Remotely).

The Application:?Train as a Sensor

VIDUR is mounted on the board in front of the locomotive and positioned in such a way that the laser is focused on the rail head. While the train moves, it can monitor in real-time the vibration and condition of the rail ahead of running train.

Onboard Train monitoring of VIDUR is implemented without any constraint of speed.?The engine driver is alerted for corrective action of any damage 15 km ahead of the running train. VIDUR aids in Real-time monitoring and diagnostics of Rail by Identifying:

o??Crack, Slag, Porosity,

o??Chipping off of Railhead / Thickness or surface of rail that reduces even less than 5 mm.

o??Fish plate removal, loosen nut bolts.

o??Metal shrinkage during winters and expansion during hot weather resulting in Buckling, Sun kinks, or rail slagging of long welded rail (LWR), and other environmental impacts like snow and ice that could make slippery rail resulting in train derailment and mishaps.???

o??Blockade on a track like boulders, trees, animal seating or crossing, a vehicle jammed on the track.

o??Soil erosion or floods causing the removal of complete ballast of the track and rail stays suspended.

Why Train as a Sensor

·????????Damage data collected is simultaneously recorded on a Big Data analytical platform with geo-coordinates. The Train that is alerted of any damage on the Rail or any hindrance on the Track alerts other trains running on the same or opposite line. The data is also communicated to the nearby railway station, lineman, and centralized command and control system of the railways division.

Conclusion

·????????VIDUR assists in early fault detection and prediction of failures by making assessments of the damage. ?Thresholds of damage are determined for the safe passage of a train.

·????????It Improves the safety of platforms (trains and rails) as well as passengers,

·????????VIDUR supports Signal passing at danger (spad) or/and overrun of movement authority.

·????????Saving maintenance costs for Railways.

The successful proof of concept was carried out near Araku Railway station on the KK line. The contented DRM then posted a new challenge, Can you develop the technology that can identify the damage on rail and track when the incidence of threat happens in the absence of a train?

The answer was yes, Coming up in Part -2.