shield Successful at a speed of 160 kmph! A recent trial conducted by Agra Division of North Central Railway has shown promising results for braking parameters Armor Anti-Train Collision System, The trials on the Palwal-Mathura section involved a semi-high speed engine equipped with the armor system.
The indigenous Kavach anti-train collision system has been developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO). This system can apply brakes automatically in emergency situations when the train driver or loco pilot fails to react in time.
According to a PTI report, the armor system was installed on the semi-high-speed engine, WAP-5, under the supervision of North Central Railway’s Deputy Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Kush Gupta. According to Agra Railway Division’s PRO Prashasti Srivastava, the engine was tested at a speed of 160 km per hour on January 19 on the Palwal-Mathura section.
Srivastava said that the driver of the locomotive was instructed not to apply brakes when the red signal was received. Our objective was to assess whether the armor would automatically apply the brakes, allowing the train to stop before the signal, he was quoted as saying.
The purpose of the test was to test whether the armor system would automatically apply the brakes and stop the train before a red signal. The locomotive stopped 30 meters short of the signal, demonstrating the effectiveness of the armor system.

Indian Rail is in the process of implementing the Armor system across its network to enhance operational security. The WAP-5 locomotive, capable of pulling passenger coaches at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, is currently being used for trials. The test will soon be repeated on locomotives with passenger coaches. WAP-5 locomotives are used in premium trains like Shatabdi and Gatimaan Express.

Agra Division has developed an entire Kavach network over a distance of 80 km between Mathura (except the station) and Palwal, which includes installation of RFID tags on railway tracks and installation of stationary Kavach units at various locations.
According to RDSO officials, the Delhi-Agra section is the only part of the rail network where trains can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph. The maximum speed of trains on all other sections in India is 130 kmph.

The Kavach system is already operational in three sections on the 1,465 km long route and in 139 locomotives in the South Central Railway. However, testing at speeds above 130 kmph is necessary as Indian Railways is considering introducing semi-high speed trains.
The armor system not only helps protect loco pilots from signal passing and overspeeding, but also increases safety and efficiency during inclement weather conditions.