The Indian Railways is all set to overhaul its age-old signalling system by moving towards Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems. This is a huge revamp, because, for the last 167 years, the Railways’ signalling system has largely been the red and green signalling codes along the tracks.
On the cards is the roll-out of two ATP systems — European Train Control System (ETCS) and Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). Under the National Rail Plan, an investment of Rs 50,000 crore has been earmarked for the modernisation of railways' signalling and telecom systems over the next five years.
ATP is a