LAHORE, June 11: The Pakistan Railways has decided to execute a Rs9.30 billion project to improve signalling system on its Rohri-Shahdara section.

The project has been awarded to a Chinese firm, China National Machinery Company, and an agreement in this regard is likely to be signed before June 30.

The project will be completed at suppliers credit basis within five years, and after successful commissioning the new auto-block signalling system would be able to serve trains running at a speed of 160km per hour.

The most prominent feature of the system is that the signal will be reflected in the cabin of the locomotive driver, enabling him to drive the train safely at the permissible speed even during foggy days.

Currently, the speed of the trains has to be reduced during the foggy weather to enable locomotive driver spot the signal for getting clearance to enter a railway station area. It wastes a lot of time.

The auto-block system, introduced between 1970 and 1997, is functioning at 16 railway stations. Non-interlock mechanical, Standard I, II, III and Relay interlock signalling systems are functioning at the railway network so far.

The non-interlock, installed at 165 stations, can accommodate trains running at a speed of 15km per hour, the Standard I and II are functioning at 234 stations and can cater to 50km and 70km per hour speed, respectively, while Standard III, in vogue at 210 stations, can serve trains running at a speed of 120km per hour. Relay interlock system is functional at 42 stations.

The railway authorities are also trying to include total computerization of the track signalling system in the project. Some railway stations will be computerized on an experimental basis. However, the plan is yet to be finalized.

Under its long-term strategy, the railway management is also planning to introduce electronic interlocking system at stations, auto-block at double line and semi auto-block at single line sections.

To improve handling of railway traffic at Rohri, Jacobabad, Quetta, Wazirabad, Attock city and other stations, a modernization plan is also being undertaken at a cost of Rs1.769 billion. The scheme includes laying of underground cable and installation of single line block gadgets. While auto-block will also be introduced on Shahdara-Faisalabad, Karachi-Rohri and Karachi-Kotri.