Railway gates are
romantic places in some movies. Remember that there was a movie in 1983 by name ‘Bhagavathipuram Railway
gate’ starring Thiagarajan (father of Prashanth) with stirring music by
Illayaraja. Not in the bustling city – the other day,
nearer Chromepet Railway station observed that people continued their way – as
if there was no gate at all, when it was closed. People were crossing even a train was at
vicinity – some uncaringly continuing their crores-worth talk on mobile – some
bending and flexing their vehicles through the gate at level crossing.
A level crossing is
an intersection where arailway line crosses a road or path at the same level,
as opposed to the railway line crossing over or under using a bridge or tunnel.
Early level crossings had a flagman in a nearby booth who would, on the
approach of a train, wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear
the tracks. Manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway
were later introduced, intended to be a complete barrier against intrusion of
any road traffic onto the railway. In the early days of the railways much road
traffic was horse-drawn or included livestock, requiring a full barrier
crossing the entire width of the road.
The first US patent
for such crossing gates was awarded in 1867, to J. Nason and J. F. Wilson, of
Boston.Later, as motor vehicles appeared, this type of barrier became less
effective, while the need for a barrier to livestock diminished dramatically.
Many countries therefore replaced the fully gated crossings with weaker but
more-visible barriers, and relied upon road users obeying the associated
warning signals to stop.In many
level-crossing, one can observe people waiting impatiently – slowly one
overtaking other and piling traffic on the wrong side and when the gate opens,
there will rat-race – in the process, proper way would not be given for the
oncoming vehicles. So much so for the road discipline.
Level crossings
constitute a significant safety concern internationally. Unfortunately there
are many unmanned level crossings and some fatal accidents do occur in these
places. Some level crossings have only
passive warning signs while some have active automatic warning devices. One important aspect at level crossing is a consistent
appearance and uniform signage.
Indian Railways
manual states that the classification of level crossings should be settled in
consultation with the Road authorities concerned keeping in view the class of
the road, visibility conditions, the volume of the road traffic and the number
of trains passing over the level crossing.
The gates may be in the form of
chains, lifting barriers or movable gates of approved design. Lifting barriers are the most popular designs
in manned level crossings in India. The manual further states that lifting type
barriers, swing gates or chains when closed against road traffic shall be
securely locked.When the locking arrangement is of the hasp and staple type
with padlocks, two spare chains with loops at both ends should be provided for
locking the gates when the locking arrangement goes out of order.Stops should
be provided to prevent level crossing gates from swinging towards the track and
causing infringement. Catches should be provided to secure gates when in the
open position to avoid obstruction to road traffic.
In the case of all
manned level crossings, two long spare chains with loops at both ends, should
be kept as reserve for use as an alternate to the barrier/gate, in case of
damage to them. Two discs painted red with the words "stop" with
arrangements for fixing them on the ground should also form part of the spare
equipment.
Recently it was
reported that the West-Central Railway Zone has become the first zone in Indian
Railways to eliminate all unmanned level crossings from its system by August
31, 2015.Out of total 118 unmanned level crossings falling on West-Central
Railways as of April 2014, 80 were
eliminated in the financial year 2014-15 and the target of 66 and the remaining
38 have been achieved in current financial year by 31st August, 2015, an
official statement said. This was achieved by constructing 33 Limited Height
Sub Ways (LHs) and manning of 30 level crossings. It is a big safety
initiative, the release added. This
would significantly reduce the accidents and casualties.
The Hindu of
2.11.2015 reports that as an additional measure to enhance safety at level
crossings, Southern Railway has installed an Automatic Banner Flag on a
experimental measure at a non-interlocked manned level crossing gate in the
Tiruchi – Karur broad gauge section to caution loco pilots and avoid accidents.
The
automatic banner flag with reflective tapes has been provided at the manned
Level Crossing gate 79 at Kambarasampettai on the city’s outskirts falling under
the Salem Railway Division limit. Developed in-house, the automatic banner flag
is connected to the gate winch where the gate-keeper operates the level
crossing gate before a train passes by and after its departure from that
spot.Railway officials told ‘The Hindu’ that as the lifting barrier is opened
for road traffic at the manned gate, the automatic banner flag installed a few
metres away automatically comes across the track.As the lifting barrier is
closed for passing of train, the automatic banner flag gives way in a
synchronised operation.The automation would reduce manual dependence of putting
up the banner flags by the gatekeeper when the gate is opened for road traffic.
Photo credit: The Hindu
A
similar automatic banner flag would soon be put up on the other side of the manned
gate at Kambarasampettai, the officials said.This is the second manned gate to
have been provided with this additional safety measure after the one put up at
Salem station, the official said.The automatic banner flag has been punched
with holes to enable air pass through it so as to prevent damage to it. The
reflective tapes will make the banner flag visible during night hours.
This
is an additional safety measure to have been introduced at a non-interlocked
gate in Salem railway division to caution loco pilots and avoid accidents in
addition to manned gates and signals, a senior railway officer said.The
non-interlocked gate at Kambarasampettai had been chosen as its vicinity is
thickly populated with frequent vehicular movements, another official said.The
automatic banner flag at Kambarasampettai has been put up as a trial measure.
Based on its performance a report would be forwarded to Chief Safety Officer
who in turn would submit the same to the Lucknow-based Research Design and
Standards Organisation before it is extended to other non-interlocked manned
gates, the officer said.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
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