DATALOGGER BASED COMPUTERISED TRAINCHARTING

INTRODUCTION:
All the stations on Nagda-Kota-Gangapurcity-Mathura route of Kota Division are equipped with data loggers. Data loggers are networked as per control sections. In Kota-Gangapurcity section 23 stations are provided with 25 data loggers. Since the information of the vital relays is available at Control Office i.e. Kota. It is possible to track a train and to chart the train movement automatically. The system is not only track the train but also predict the train movement for the next few hours, which is equivalent to the manual planning by the ATNL. Based on the train information & charting data various statistics can be generated in the form of reports which are time consuming & tedious if done manually. Section Kota - Nagda Kota - Gangapurcity Gangapurcity - Mathura No of Data loggers 29 25 18 Date of Commissioning Data loggers Train charting Sept00 Apr 99 Mar02 Feb 2002 Mar 2002 Dec 2002

SETUP:
Entire Rajdhani route of KOTA division (having 62stations, 549Kms) have been provided with Networked Data loggers.
All the Data loggers are connected through existing RE telecom cable in series to FEP. The FEP of the Data logger Network is connected to the Servers through a computer containing NMDL software with Train charting logics. (See Fig: 1-System Configuration) The client software is provided for viewing the chart / data. This client software by default is a passive client (which doesnt enable chart editing & manual entry) but on accessing into higher levels by issuing passwords it acts as an active client (which enables chart editing & manual entry provisions).

1. Active Client maintained by ATNL who has the control over the train
movements and is connected to the server through LAN. At any time, active Client can control the train movement charting. Active Client can feed the Train information as shown in

2. Passive Clients to view the chart anywhere from the network, the chart available
at this client is unchanged and cannot be modified. Any number of passive clients can view the train chart by connecting to the server. In short, the chart is

available to all users using client end software by logging on the server through LAN / Modem (Dialup or leased) / Microwave / Intranet / Internet.

PLOTTER

DATALOGGER NETWORK

FRONT END PROCESSOR

COMPUTER WITH NMDL S/W AND TC LOGICS

CENTRAL Comm. MONITORING UNIT

(SERVER)

TC PASSIVE CLIENTS

Comm.

TC ACTIVE CLIENT Fig: 1- System Configuration

Automatic Tracking of Train:

For tracking a train movement, basic concept of sequential operation of track circuit is monitored along with the position of points en-route. For this purpose all Exit/Entry routes are tabulated in terms of Geographical position of Track circuits & point position, station wise. Whenever any T.C. is dropped it activates the route, which contains that track circuit. As the train moves, track circuits will drop sequentially & finally only one unique route will be selected. At this stage this train will be allotted train index Automatically for further identification of the train. With the point position and the berthing track position it can be determined that at what line / platform the train is received. Similarly when the train leaves the station, it will select the appropriate exit route. When this train touches the Home Signal track of next station it checks if prior to this AZTR of Block section in rear & the Advance Starter track of previous station were dropped. This is co-related the station-to-station train charting. Since the train index is carry forward in this process, it is therefore possible to plot the correct train. The train charting software facilitates the ATNL to enter the train No., and other train information such as Loco / Engine No., Drivers name, load, Guards name, vacuum, etc. This software also facilitates to edit the train charting whenever necessary. It allows making links if joints in auto mode. It allows charting manually even if Automatic charting is partially or totally failed. For the convenience of ATNL two monitors are provided. One screen always shows the chart and another is used to open
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the manual-charting string grid or to pop-up other forms.

FEATURES:
Auto tracking of train on real time. Online Plotting of chart. Charting of train from starting to destination point. Alarm generation & tracking of any new train entered in the section automatically.

Reporting of deviation from scheduled timings. ATNL can write abbreviated codes on the chart, as he writes in Manual Charting. This can be taken automatically to unusual entry. Hard copy of chart for online or offline data. User can get as many as copy required.

Adjustable color scheme for plotting and display of train movement on the chart. Provision for train information entry for Train number, name, crew .etc details. Monitoring of maintenance blocks & displaying on the chart. Enable crew changing point to effectively order train / Engine crews. Forecasting of train movements. Presentation of train number, location, its arrival / departure, on hold, predefined reason for its abnormal status, etc. In case of communication failures, provision for manual entry of train movement is possible. Position of train and Engine for the last 8 hours can be seen in tabulated form with Crew Detail.

Capable of displaying train position on Web. ATNL Can observe status of all Line all stations on line. Details of Yard position, Speed restriction and stable loads are displayed on Chart itself. Super imposed Master chart also available with current chart and also available in tabular form.

FEATURES:

Contd.

Software automatically considers Blocks & Caution orders for prediction. Train Information automatically transfers to next control section. Need not to enter again. ATNL can monitors the Average speed in block sections. Different type of reports is readily available like TOR, LTM, Punctuality, and Unusual etc. Useful tools are available Link, Delink, Draw blocks & Line with UNDO, Comments on Graph, Highlighting train, Searching train etc. Reminder of Block completion by Blinking. Possible to put Comments on graph and also directly recorded in unusual. Schedule timings of the passenger train can be seen in tabular form. Earlier at the time of Chart changing controller has to redraw and rewrite all the information available on outgoing chart to incoming chart. But now it is not required at all because it is continuous screen. User can select maximum 14hrs chart (7hrs of current chart + 7hrs of prediction). Transparent Control system. Anyone can monitor control chart in control office on LAN.

About the chart:

Red color trains indicates Mail/Exp and Rajdhani, Blue color trains indicates Passenger train, Purple color trains indicates Goods with AC Engines, Green color trains indicates Goods with Diesel Engines, Yellow color trains indicates Loco Account Engines, Orange color trains indicates Rajdhani goods, Black color trains indicates Departmental train i.e. TW, Track M/c, BT etc. Box with Dotted red lines shows Blocks or Disconnections etc. Left Top corner indicates the Caution orders. Left Bottom Corner data show the stable load position. Green, Red boxes indicates on line status of that station Green means clear Red means track occupied White means status not available. White color text shows the comments given by controller. Dotted lines show the schedule path for that train. Red horizontal from Leftmost to rightmost end shows stable train. Red vertical line shows the current time also there is a time yellow label. Yellow box blinking means Block period is about to end. Train with White color Highlighted train. Darker color shows the current chart area and Lighter part
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shows the Predicted area.

ADVANTAGE THRU DATALOGGER BASED TRAINCHARTING

o Controller can devote more time on planning o Plotting is on Real time. No human involveement to plot the train so more accurate. o Online loop occupancy position

PREDICTION:
Forecasting of train movement for next few hours will be shown based on the following factors Earlier prediction was based on personnel expertise so forecasting of trains differs man to man. But in this system some common logics fed & defined factor will be considered for prediction. NRT & MRT Loop occupancy Actual train speed / restricted speed Train movement Maintenance Blocks Preferences Caution Orders Ongoing Unusual

LIMITATIONS OF AUTOMATIC TRAIN CHARTING SYSTEM:

o o o o . Networking communication media should work perfectly to maintain on-line status. All the stations of the control section should be equipped with Data logger. Train controllers should have basic computer Knowledge. Continuous track circuiting required.

FUTURE APPLICATIONS:
Virtual Train Describer System In Control Office CAB Signaling Central Operation Of Signals and Points
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Paperless Control Office Planning Of Maintenance Blocks Online / Offline Report Generation Linking to IVRS train on line information system. Locate your train information system Automation of Manual Train Enquiry system. Automation of Crew control management system. Automatic Train Arr./Dep. Moving Display Boards. Automatic Computerized Announcement. Train position on Web. Statistical analysis trough database.

Kota division There are four Control sections, three of them are working with Data logger based Train charting system. Kota-Ruthiai-Chittaurgarh control section is also commissioned on 20Jan-2004 With Computer Train charting (manual format). KOTA Division is the first fully computerized control division in INDIAN RAILWAYS with Data logger based train charting.

FINANCIAL ASPECTS: For Data logger based Train charting control system Cast of One Data logger at station Cost of data loggers (20 stations per section) Control Hardware & Software Train charting Hardware at control office Train charting Software Total cost of one control section 1.6Lacs 32Lacs 3.4Lacs 8.0Lacs 2.0Lacs 47.0Lacs

CONCLUSION:
Automatic Train charting is a user-friendly system. This system precisely track & plot the train movement on real time basis and make the work of the ATNL easier. It also helps in generating various reports, which can help in decision-making.
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Kota division has the pride first Division in Indian Railways in which Data logger based train charting system commissioned.

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