1. Level Crossing Safety Management Information System
- R. K. Verma
Chief Engineer/ Indian Railways

2. Introduction
The total no. of accidents taking place on Indian Railways (IR) is on a decline.
The accidents at level crossings (LCs) are also very low, compared to advance railway systems (0.10 per million of train-kms)
Yet, there is a concern due to rising trend of accidents at LCs

3. Objective
To suggest a new approach to improve safety at LCs on IR

4. Presentation Outline Corporate Safety Plan (2003-13)
Trend and Severity of LC accidents
Policy for Safety Enhancement Measures
Safety Management Information System
Conclusion

5. Corporate Safety Plan (2003-13)
Complete elimination of collisions
Reduction in derailments by 60%
Reduction in fire accidents by 80%
By reducing human dependence

6. Corporate Safety Plan (Contd…)
Accidents at LCs –
- 16% of total accounting for
46% of total fatalities in the year 2003
Compared to the previous decade, it increased by 23%
The plan only aims at arresting the LC accidents at current level

7. Trend and Severity of LC Accidents
During , LC accidents increased to 22% (from 16%)
Total fatalities also increased to 49% (from 46%)

8. Trend of Accidents

9. Trend of LC Accidents

10. Trend of fatalities at LCs

11. Details of LC accidents
During , 85% accidents at unmanned LCs & 15% at manned LCs
One LC at every 1.8 km distance
Cost of manning of LCs -
Rs.2450/- crores as capital cost
and
Rs. 700 crores per annum as maintenance and operation cost

12. Details of LC accidents (Contd…)
50% of accidents at manned LCs due to Gates Open /improperly closed or secured
40% of manned LCs are interlocked

13. Policy for Safety Enhancement Measures
Re-classification of LCs as per revised criteria based on TVUs (Train Vehicle Units)
Criteria and Priority for manning unmanned LCs based on TVUs, No. of Road Vehicles, Visibility Conditions
No manning, if motor vehicles do not ply regularly
Priority based on importance of route

14. Need for Safety Management Information System
There exists a definite policy on IR for constn. of grade separators, manning / interlocking of gates. But, fiscal constraints make it imperative to prioritize the safety works more scientifically, i.e. by hazard rating.

15. Safety Management Information System
For hazard rating, a database of LC inventories & past accident history needed
Priority of safety enhancement measures decided based on hazard rating

16. Elements of a Safety Management Information System
Up-to-date LC Inventory
Accident / Incident Data
Safety Performance Index

17. LC Inventory
Unique ID
Location, Physical Characteristics etc.

18. Hazard Rating Rail / Road Traffic Density Visibility Condition
Depends on-
Rail / Road Traffic Density
Visibility Condition
Type of Barrier
Road Surface Condition
Angle of Crossing
Gradient of Road
Rail / Road Alignment

19. Accident / Incident Report
Causes
Circumstances
Contributory Factors
Consequences
Corrective Action

20. Safety Performance Report
No. of Fatalities / Injuries in terms of a rate per million train-kms
Evaluate safety enhancement measures

21. C o n c l u s i o n
A new approach based on database of LC Inventories, Accident/Incident Reports & Safety Performance Reports will help in deciding cost- effective safety enhancement measures
This approach will bring down the increasing trend of accidents at LCs

22. Thanks !