Tracking train movements

Passengers need not depend on others to know the approaching station or location of a train anymore, thanks to Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

India's Southern Railway has installed GPS-enabled 'station identification and display boards' in the Madurai-Chennai-Madurai Vaigai and Tiruchi-Chennai-Tiruchi Pallavan superfast expresses to give information on train movements to passengers, especially foreigners. Developed by the Technology Promotion Center, Thiruvananthapuram, at a cost of Rs. 1.95 lakhs, the boards have been set up in the air-conditioned chair car coaches.

The system would have a database for the route. It would receive signals from stations enroute and get updated automatically. The Light Emitting Diode (LED) would display in red letters the last station left, current location and the next stop with timings.

The name of the approaching station would appear at least one km ahead of the destination. "We have introduced this facility on a trial basis," Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Hemant Kumar told The Hindu.

Depending upon the feedback from passengers, it will be extended to other classes and trains, he said.

Railway officials believe the display boards will immensely benefit passengers in air-conditioned coaches.

It will be useful especially at night, as passengers need not get down or peep out to find out if their station has come.

The Hindu