Western Railway (Vadodara Division) commissioned indigenous Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on the 96-km Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad rail section, marking Gujarat’s first Kavach-enabled corridor. The rollout strengthens railway safety, operational reliability, and deployment of indigenous safety technologies.
Key Highlights
- Section Covered: Bajwa (Vadodara) – Ahmedabad (96 km)
- Stations under Kavach: 17 stations
- Infrastructure Installed:
- 23 communication towers
- 20 Kavach buildings/huts
- 192 km optical fibre cable (OFC)
- 2,872 RFID tags
- First Kavach-enabled train on the section: 59549/59550 Sankalp Fast Passenger (WAP-7 locomotive, 11 LHB coaches)
- Network Management System (NMS): Established at Pratapnagar, Vadodara & Ahmedabad division offices
- Reinforces Indian Railways’ push toward indigenous, technology-driven rail safety
About Kavach 4.0 (Indigenous ATP System)
Kavach is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by Indian Railways to ensure the highest level of operational safety.
Core Functions
- Prevents Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD)
- Regulates overspeeding
- Prevents head-on and rear-end collisions
- Automatically applies brakes when safety limits are breached
- Enhances operations even in adverse weather
Technology Framework
- RFID tags along the track
- Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) radio communication
- Real-time exchange between:
- Trackside equipment
- Signalling systems
- Locomotives
- Provides continuous alerts to loco pilots
Additional Safety Features
- SOS facility
- Automatic whistling at level crossings
- Automatic halt at red signals
- Being rolled out across trains including Vande Bharat
Coverage & Certification
- Implemented on over 2,200 Route Kilometres (RKMs)
- Certified to Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) —
one of the highest safety standards in railway signalling - Approved by RDSO after operational improvements & safety assessments
- Represents a major milestone for India’s high-density rail network
What’s New in Kavach 4.0- Key Enhancements
- Improved location accuracy → precise train positioning
- Better signal aspect processing in large & complex yards
- Station-to-station Kavach interface via OFC → faster & reliable communication
- Direct integration with electronic interlocking systems
- More robust, responsive, and scalable for nationwide deployment
- Certified by Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) to global safety standards
Significance
- Strengthens passenger safety & operational reliability
- Promotes indigenous railway technology
- Supports India’s vision of a safer and smarter rail network
- Aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat in high-end transport systems
About Kavach – Background
- Earlier known as: Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
- Developed by: Indian Railways & RDSO
- First large-scale deployment: South Central Railway
- Priority deployment planned on:
- High-density & high-traffic routes
- Golden Quadrilateral & Diagonal routes
About Western Railway
- Headquarters: Churchgate, Mumbai
- Zones Covered: Maharashtra, Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan & MP
- Major Divisions:
Mumbai Central, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ratlam - Vadodara is one of the busiest railway divisions in India
Railway Safety Framework
Key safety initiatives:
- Kavach ATP System
- RRSK – Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh
- Track renewal & signalling modernisation
- LHB coaches for enhanced safety