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Indian Railways is also using Computerised Train Signal Register for electronically transmitting data.
Indian Railways has been working to improve its creaking infrastructure and enhance passenger amenities. Railways has also been adopting new technologies like modern signalling and ticketing systems to improve train operations and provide better passenger experience to its customers. To ensure success in this effort, Railways has introduced various IT initiatives as well. Here are 4 such IT initiatives:
1. Tracking of trains: The public transporter has fitted many trains with GPS devices for better navigation.
"Railways have experimented with tracking of trains using GPS devices with these GPS devices located in the locomotive. For a sustainable solution, a Real Time Train Information System (RTIS) is being implemented, whereby GPS tracking devices would communicate using satellite communications. The trials have been successful," Railways revealed in a statement.
Apart from this, Railways is also using data logger systems, available in track circuited stations, to capture arrival and departure information of trains.
Railways is also using Computerised Train Signal Register for electronically transmitting data.
"In an effort to computerise the transactions of the station master, a Computerised Train Signal Register is going live at 650 stations and this enables arrival/departure information to be transmitted to the Control Office Application (COA) and the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) directly from the station master’s desk," it said.
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2. Handheld Devices on trains: To enable effective distribution of vacant berths to waitlisted passengers, Railways is providing TTEs with handheld terminals.
"Handheld Terminals (HHTs) are being provided to the Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to be able to check the reserved coaches, allot the vacant berths and transmit information on available berths to the subsequent stations. The HHT can also access the ticketing application and collect excess fares as per rules. The terminal can potentially connect to a Point of Sale (POS) machine and charges can be collected digitally," said the public transporter.
3. Modernisation of Ticketing Website (IRCTC): Railways has completely transformed its e-ticketing website irctc.co.in. IRCTC's next generation website is easy to use and faster than before.
"The entire user experience has been improved substantially with the launch of a new interface with easier navigation and standard views that enable the passengers to transact smoothly. New features have been added that enable better planning of journeys aiding the passenger to obtain confirmed tickets," said Railways.
Over the last four years, the capacity of the website has increased to 20,000 tickets per minute starting from 2000 tickets per minute in 2014, a ten-fold increase.
4. Unreserved Ticketing through smartphones: Railways has witnessed an increase of around 35,000% in unreserved ticket booking. It had launched paperless unreserved ticketing on mobile phones on 25.12.2014 at Mumbai. The facility has been expanded to suburban sections of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Secunderabad and to the New Delhi-Palwal section of Northern Railway.
"The unreserved ticketing through mobile phones has eliminated the need for passengers to stand in queues for getting tickets for the journey in unreserved compartments of trains. The ticket is delivered on the Mobile Phone and is embedded with QR Code. About 4 lakh passengers per day are booking tickets on Mobile phones," it added.
06:44 PM IST