Patna: The East Central Railway (ECR) successfully tested the Kavach automatic train protection system, with two locomotives approaching each other on the same track automatically stopping at a safe distance.ECR chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra said the trial was conducted on the 65-km Barauni-Samastipur and Barauni-Begusarai sections under the direct supervision of ECR GM Dimpy Garg and other senior railway officials.During the demonstration, two locomotives fitted with Kavach approached each other head-on and automatically stopped at a safe distance, showcasing the system’s ability to prevent potential collisions, he said.The successful trial marks a significant step towards strengthening railway safety in the ECR zone, where the indigenous Kavach system is being installed on crucial routes to minimise the risk of accidents.Chandra said Kavach is designed to automatically apply brakes when it detects a potential collision or other unsafe operating conditions. The system also alerts loco pilots and intervenes when necessary, particularly when prescribed safety protocols are not followed.He said the trial demonstrated Kavach’s effectiveness in enhancing operational safety. Its installation on important routes is part of the railways’ broader efforts to strengthen train protection mechanisms and ensure safer journeys for passengers.“The latest trial is expected to provide further impetus to the deployment of Kavach across critical sections of the ECR network like the DDU-Patna-Jhajha mainline route and DDU-Gaya-Dhanbad Grand Chord (GC) section of the ECR,” Chandra said.Meanwhile, a goods train successfully passed through the Neora-Jatdumri-Daniyawan-Biharsharif-Sekhpura-Kiul route on Thursday, easing traffic pressure on the Danapur-Patna-Kiul-Jhajha mainline route, he said.
