South Eastern Railway has activated the Kavach automatic train protection system on 10 electric locomotives at its Kharagpur electric loco shed, in a move aimed at reducing risks linked to signal violations, excessive speed and delayed braking. The railway is also introducing RFID tags on conventional freight locomotives to digitally track their location.
The work is being carried out at the Kharagpur electric loco shed, which the report identifies as the first shed under South Eastern Railway to install RFID tags on conventional electric freight engines. The initiatives bring two separate technology systems into locomotive operations: Kavach for train safety and RFID for asset-location monitoring.
According to railway sources cited in the report, Kavach was activated on 10 engines between 25 July and 1 October. Installation has also been completed on two additional engines, although the system on those locomotives is yet to be activated. Work is under way on two more engines.
Kavach is designed to support automatic braking in specified situations, prevent a train from passing a red signal and help control excessive speed. The system also provides signal-related information to the locomotive pilot through a display inside the cabin. These functions are intended to give train crews an additional layer of protection during operations.
The system does not replace the responsibilities of the locomotive pilot or railway operating staff. Instead, the reported functions indicate a technology-assisted safety framework in which onboard equipment can respond to defined operating conditions and provide information about signals. The report does not provide details of the specific routes, sections or operational conditions in which the activated locomotives will run.
The parallel RFID programme is focused on visibility of freight locomotive movements. Two engines have already been fitted with RFID tags, while work is in progress on three others. The tags are intended to enable the digital monitoring of locomotive locations, giving railway managers an electronic means of following the movement of the tagged assets.
The developments are significant because locomotive safety and fleet visibility address different parts of railway administration. Kavach is associated with preventing or mitigating certain unsafe train movements, while RFID supports the tracking and management of rolling stock. Together, they show how railway modernisation is being pursued through both operational safety systems and digital asset monitoring.
The reported rollout remains limited to a defined number of locomotives. Ten engines have Kavach activated, two more are awaiting activation after installation, and two are still under installation. On the RFID side, two freight locomotives have been tagged and three are undergoing work.
Railway authorities expect the use of Kavach and RFID technology to improve train safety and operating management. The next steps identified in the report are the activation of the two locomotives where Kavach installation has been completed, the completion of work on two additional engines and the continued RFID installation programme on three freight locomotives.
