TRAINS TO HAVE AIRCRAFT-LIKE 'BLACK BOX' TO TRACK SEQUENCE OF ACCIDENTS

The Indian Railways has been on a major rejig over the past couple of months. Authorities have been amping up facilities and security measures in light of passenger comfort and safety.

Now, in a game-changing move that could help analyse train accidents, the government has allotted Rs 100 crore for installing systems similar to the black box in airplanes. According to a report in India Times, more than 3,500 systems will be installed in trains.

“Rs 100 crore have been sanctioned in Budget 2018-19 for the acquisition of 3,500 Loco cab audio video recording (LCAVR) and Crew Voice and Video Recording system (CVVRS)," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

26 locomotives (23 diesel and 3 electric) have already been fitted with LCAVR and CVVRS devices, he added.

According to the minister, the LCAVR and CVVRS system provides invaluable data to investigators which will help them in understanding the sequence of events leading up to an accident, and for identifying operational issues and human factors.

The device will operate in somewhat a similar manner to the 'black box' in airplanes.