I agree.
According to some recent discussions in the forum, it is a temporary step, until the long awaited , so called "kavach installation" on 160 kmph routes. track-fitted RFID tags shall be used for communicating an upcoming signal in and level crossing in driver cabin. Also ,There have been recent instances of Gatimaan running way over PSR at places.
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However, I still regard it as a retrograde step. Despite field trials between 2015-2017 and live demonstration in 2022 , It seems kavach installation has not been done on routes with trains running at 160kmph . None of the recent rail accidents (except in Balasore one) were trains running at 110 or 130 kmph , let alone 160 .
Some issues have been plaguing IR for long - Lack of proper fencing, lack of adequate security system, lack of R&D in improvement of rail security, huge vacancies - They are trying to brush these under the carpet by reducing speed in name of risk mitigation .
Quoting from the above article -"we were not able to run trains at 160 kmph because the track was not safe to operate at that speed. Unless the organisation is culturally ready to maintain high-tech signalling equipment, high-speed tracks and rolling stock, no matter what trains we buy or make, we will be constrained to run at lower speed only."
please wait...Translate to EnglishI agree. Recently on the forum they were talking about some temporary fix until the "kavach installation" on 160 kmph routes happens. They are planning to use track-fitted RFID tags to alert the drivers in their cabins about upcoming signals and level crossings. Gatimaan has been breaking speed limits too. Despite trials from 2015-2017 and a live demo in 2022, it seems like the kavach installation hasn't been done on 160 kmph routes yet. Most recent accidents didn't involve trains going above 130 kmph, let alone 160. Indian Railways has been struggling with issues like lack of fencing, security systems, R&D for rail safety, and many vacancies. They are just trying to cover these up by reducing speed in the name of safety. As the article says, "unless we upgrade our tracks and equipment, we can't run trains at high speeds no matter what."