Trials on to provide internet on trains

11 December 2003, Sify News

The Railways has decided to provide internet services in moving trains and initial technical trials for provision of such services in a running train have already been conducted on Tughlakabad-Faridabad section, government told the Lok Sabha today.

The train and route on which the pilot project of government-run RailTel Corporation of India Limited is to be implemented is under finalisation, Minister of State for Railways Basanagouda R Patil said in a written reply. 

He said the facility initially to be provided in one coach of the selected train would enable passengers to access internet and make international calls using Voice over IP Technology (VOIP).

Communication: The existing communication network does not provide real-time on-line communication from trains running between stations to control rooms and Very High Frequency (VHF) sets have been provided to train crews and station masters on busy sections to communicate during emergent situations, Patil said. 

He said satellite phones, Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) exchanges, mobile phones and other allied equipments are being added to the communication set-up to cater to faster mode of communication from the site of an accident. 

Locomotives: Railways has indigenously developed a higher acceleration new generation diesel and electric locomotives which would reduce the journey time, he said, adding so far 57 electric locomotives and 34 diesel locomotives have been manufactured.

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