Train Information System in Real Time
September 30, 2022
Indian Railways is putting in a Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS) to track train movements in real time.
What exactly is RTIS?
The Indian Railways and the Indian Space Research Organization collaborated to create the RTIS.
It is currently being carried out by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), an organization under the Railways Ministry that designs, develops, implements, and maintains the majority of the Indian Railways' important information systems.
The RTIS-enabled trains are outfitted with application software that can determine train movement events such as arrival, departure, and run-through stations, among others, using predefined logic applied to spatial coordinates. The train speed is continuously received from GSAT satellites equipped with GPS Aided Geo-Augmented Navigation System (GAGAN) receivers.
ISRO launched GSAT satellites with GAGAN payloads to track real-time train movement and relay the information to CRIS's Central Location Server (CLS), which then transmits to the National Train Enquiry System.
This information is transferred by the NTES to public information dissemination systems such as websites, mobile applications, the 139 railway helpline number, and others.
Every 30 seconds, the train speed information is delivered continuously.
The locations of the RTIS-enabled trains will be automatically plotted on the control charts.
The RTIS allows for the rapid transmission of emergency messages between the loco driver and the control office. Without requiring manual intervention, the control office will be able to track the location and speed of the RTIS-enabled train.
The configuration management system monitors the loco device's health.
In 21 electric loco sheds, 2,700 locomotives have RTIS devices installed.
As part of the project's second phase, ISRO's satellite communication (Satcom) hub will cover 6,000 additional locomotives across 50 loco sheds.
GPS transmission from 6,500 locomotives is currently fed directly into the Control Office Application, enabling automatic train charting and real-time information dissemination to passengers.
