ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has strengthened preventive measures to reduce accidents of passenger trains and during the last four months, there have been only six minor accidents without cause in the entire railway network of the country.
“There were only two train accidents in September, no accident in October and four train accidents in November due to effective steps taken by the department,” a ministry official told.
Drastic decline in accidents has been witnessed due to efforts made to curb encroachment at unmanned level crossings and unauthorized places, he added.
“Our staff are continuously monitoring railway lines across the country and conducting thorough checks on trains as passenger safety is the highest priority of the department,” he said.
The official said the ministry is taking several steps to improve railway services, including issues related to track maintenance, which is given top priority.
He said that train punctuality has been improved and all trains have been tracked, checked and repaired while “Pak rail live” mobile application has also been launched for real time tracking of trains for the convenience of passengers.
To a question, he said that first aid stations have been set up in the offices of station masters and police line centers at all railway stations where medical staff / first aid trained staff along with first aid kits / emergency kits were available round the clock.
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He said that first aid kit / emergency kits are available with the conductors in all running trains who have been trained in first aid and provide first aid to sick passengers.
The official said that Pakistan Railways was also ready to introduce a “Train Driver Assistant System” (TDAS) that will help train drivers get a clear view of railway tracks up to an impressive distance of 700 meters.
“The technology aims to increase the safety and efficiency of train operations in adverse weather conditions, particularly in the presence of dense smog and fog.”
The system, he said, is set for TDAS to revolutionize the way trains navigate foggy landscapes. He promised not only to avert potential accidents but also facilitate smooth rail travel when visibility is severely compromised.
He said the capabilities of this digital system go beyond better visibility; it can also identify and monitor vital features such as signals, level crossings, gates, track obstacles and other potential hazards within the same 700 meter radius.
The official said that the system is expected to not only facilitate timely running of trains on foggy days, but also be helpful in avoiding accidents during heavy foggy weather and increase the overall safety and efficiency of Pakistan’s railway network.
