Kavach trial successful! In just 40 mins, 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper covers 50 km at 160 kmph as Indian Railways plans wider safety system rollout

A 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train has successfully completed a high-speed trial of the indigenous ‘Kavach’ automatic train protection system on the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Palwal route. The train was operated at a speed of 160 kmph during the trial conducted by Northern Railway on Sunday.

According to a report by Navbharat Times, the trial was carried out to assess the performance of the Kavach safety system at high speed. Railway officials said the trial was successful, with the communication system between the loco pilot and the station functioning properly.

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The train covered the nearly 50-km distance between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Palwal in around 40 minutes.

Vande Bharat sleeper train runs at 160 kmph on Delhi-Palwal route

The trial marked the first time that a 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train was operated at 160 kmph on this route. Until now, trials involving locomotives had been conducted to assess the Kavach system on the Delhi-Palwal section.

The train left Hazrat Nizamuddin at around 1.38 pm and reached Palwal station at 2.21 pm, arriving at platform number four. After a halt of 31 minutes, it departed Palwal at 2.52 pm and returned to Hazrat Nizamuddin at 3.32 pm.

Train used loop line near Faridabad during trial

The train could not maintain the maximum speed throughout the route because development work was underway on the Faridabad main line. With both the up and down main lines closed, the train was diverted through the loop line.

As a result, the speed was reduced slightly while passing through Faridabad station. Despite this, the trial successfully tested the Kavach system while the Vande Bharat sleeper train was running at high speed.

Gatimaan Express currently runs at 160 kmph on this route

Railway officials cited by NBT said the Gatimaan Express currently operates at a maximum speed of 160 kmph on this section, although it can reach that speed only after crossing Newtown station.

The latest trial is significant as the 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train was tested at 160 kmph on the Delhi-Palwal route as part of the assessment of the Kavach system.

Kavach communication system performs successfully

One of the key aspects tested during the trial was the communication system integrated with Kavach. According to railway officials, communication between the loco pilot and the station remained smooth during the journey.

The signals and other technologies used by Kavach to maintain communication between the train and railway infrastructure reportedly functioned as expected.

What is Kavach and how does it improve train safety?

Kavach is an indigenous automatic train protection system developed to improve railway safety. It is designed to help prevent accidents such as train collisions and signal violations.

The system can alert the loco pilot when necessary and can also automatically apply the brakes if the situation requires intervention. This allows the technology to support the driver and reduce the possibility of accidents caused by human error.

Kavach tested around 30 times on New Delhi-Palwal route

Railway officials said the Kavach system has already undergone around 30 trials using locomotives on the New Delhi-Palwal railway route.

The latest test with the 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train provides another assessment of the system's performance under high-speed operating conditions.

Indian Railways plans wider Kavach rollout

The successful trial comes as Indian Railways continues efforts to expand the use of Kavach across its network. The safety system is expected to strengthen protection against accidents linked to human error while providing additional assistance to loco pilots.

The wider implementation of Kavach is aimed at improving train safety and providing passengers with a more secure railway journey.


Inputs from agencies