Safety Upgrade: Trichy Railway Electrifies Level Crossings

Southern Railway's Trichy division has successfully electrified the operations of lifting barriers at 33 high-traffic level crossings to enhance safety and reduce road traffic delays after train movement. This upgrade is part of a phased modernization plan, with electrification of 36 more crossings underway. Ultimately, all 494 level crossings in the division will be upgraded based on traffic volume.

Previously, barriers were manually operated using winches and ropes, a process that took up to two minutes. This often led to unsafe behavior, including vehicles attempting to cross before barriers were fully raised, sometimes resulting in accidents or damage to railway property.

To mitigate these risks, the division has installed Electrically Operated Lifting Barriers (EOLBs), each costing ₹16–18 lakh. These motorized systems can open or close gates in under 10 seconds. In Trichy city, EOLBs have already been installed at two key locations—near Devathanam and Trichy Town station.

With EOLBs, gatekeepers can now control barriers at the press of a button. The system also features an alert hooter and an emergency sliding boom for backup during malfunctions or power outages.

A railway official noted, “EOLBs will ensure safer and more punctual train operations. Vehicles can clear the crossings much faster, significantly improving traffic flow compared to the earlier one-minute delay with manual barriers.”

News by Rahul Yelligetti.