South Eastern Railway has activated the Kavach railway safety system on 10 electric locomotives at its Kharagpur electric loco shed, in a technology upgrade aimed at reducing operational risks during train movement. The railway is also installing RFID tags on conventional freight electric locomotives at the shed to enable their locations to be monitored digitally.
According to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Bengal, the Kavach system was commissioned on the 10 locomotives between July 25 and October 1. Work on two additional locomotives has been completed and the system is expected to be activated on them shortly. Installation is under way on two more locomotives.
Kavach is designed to support train operations in specific situations by applying the brakes automatically, preventing a train from passing a red signal and controlling excessive speed. The system also provides signal-related information to the locomotive pilot through a display inside the cabin.
The report said these functions are intended to reduce the risk of accidents by adding automated safety interventions to the locomotive and improving the information available to the crew. The system does not replace the operating role of railway staff but provides an additional layer of protection during train movement.
The Kharagpur electric loco shed has also become the first shed under South Eastern Railway where RFID tags are being installed on conventional freight electric locomotives, according to the report. RFID technology will allow the location of tagged locomotives to be tracked through digital systems.
RFID tags have already been installed on two locomotives, while work is in progress on three more. The initiative covers freight locomotive operations, where digital visibility of locomotive locations can support monitoring and operational coordination across the railway network.
The two technologies serve different operational purposes. Kavach is focused on train protection, including automated braking, red-signal enforcement and speed control, while RFID tagging is intended to improve the digital tracking of locomotives. Their simultaneous deployment at the Kharagpur shed reflects an effort to combine onboard safety systems with improved visibility of railway assets.
The railway authorities expect the use of Kavach and RFID technology to improve train safety and operational management. The immediate next steps are the activation of Kavach on the two locomotives where installation has been completed, continuation of work on two other locomotives and installation of RFID tags on three additional freight electric locomotives.
