As dense fog triggered by cold wave conditions led to low visibility, hence, a dozen trains passing through Bhopal are arriving late by several hours. Especially, trains from Delhi and northern part of the country are arriving late. On Thursday, Bhopal Railway Station’s waiting hall and platform were seen crowded with passengers waiting for their trains. A dozen trains, including Shatabdi Express, Humsafar Express, GT Express, Shreedham, Sachkhand, Malwa and Punjab Mail, arrived several hours late on Saturday. There were six trains including Shatabdi express arrived late. People driving on roads also faced difficulty due to low visibility triggered by dense fog. Plugged-in to the fog that State capital Bhopal have started experiencing in morning and evening hours for past few days. However, Railways always suggested people to enquire their train on toll free no before leaving the station.

 

Railways officials said that trains coming from north are especially being delayed. About two years back, Bhopal railway distributed 650 fog safety device to the loco pilots. These devices were to help loco pilot to bring the rail traffic on gear. Through this device, loco pilot get alert of level crossing and signals. The device raise an alert for distance of the traffic signal along with its colour red, yellow and green. The driver of the train get complete status of traffic signal that help them to run the train on right track even in dense fog. However, the device seems to failing in its aim. There are about 200 trains, including routine and special, pass every day from Bhopal, Rani Kamalapati, Sant Hirdaram, Itarsi and Bina stations within 24 hours. Trains coming from Northern part of India usually reach late. Punjab Mail, Kushinagar Express and other few trains are reaching Bhopal by six to eight hours late.

 

Passenger board in the train faced several problems due to delay in train. To avoid such situation, railway distributed fog safety device to the loco pilots. The device help to keep on train running even in dense fog. The device was placed in driver’s cabin and it alerts the drivers of approaching signal on the track in the fog. Foggy weather affects the visibility of signals. When driver get alert about the approaching signal, there would be no hurdle to increase the speed. However, there are also a few drawbacks of the device. Railways officials said that the device would not be able to notify about the turn, uphill and downhill.