Indian Railways Modernizes Century-Old Control Systems

Indian Railways is preparing a massive upgrade of its 100-year-old train control systems to improve operational safety, reduce delays, and enhance speed across the national rail network. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Mounting congestion and recent accidents have prompted Indian Railways to shift from outdated manual systems to centralized, tech-driven command centers. These hubs will streamline route planning, emergency response, and real-time train coordination.

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Indian Railways to Centralize Train Operations

The upcoming blueprint focuses on freight-heavy routes and mixed-use corridors, aiming to make rail operations faster, safer, and more efficient. Officials believe that advanced decision tools will reduce the workload of traffic controllers while boosting reliability.

The new system will unite currently siloed departments under one integrated command. This setup allows for dynamic decision-making, sharper traffic control, and improved situational awareness in a rapidly growing rail environment.

Indian Railways Learns from Global Systems

Although Indian Railways is studying global best practices—from Japan, Germany, France, and others—it must tailor solutions to India’s unique network. With long-haul freight trains, semi-high-speed services, and a wide variety of rolling stock, custom systems are essential.

Recent crashes have intensified the call for reform, revealing structural flaws in legacy infrastructure. In response, the Railway Board established a special committee to recommend urgent changes in traffic management.

Chandan Chaturvedee, a retired chief controller, emphasized how Indian Railways has long overlooked staffing shortages in traffic control. He stated that these reforms finally address long-standing concerns raised by the operations cadre.

By embracing digital transformation, Indian Railways moves toward a future-ready, responsive, and more secure railway system. The modernization aims not only to speed up train services but also to rebuild public trust.

Source, photo: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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