Touch screen for loco-pilots

Gone are the days when the train drivers and guards had to sign the duty rooster manually and no checks were performed to ascertain if they had consumed liquor while on duty, at times putting the safety of thousands of passengers in jeopardy.

Now the Central Railway has introduced a touch-screen, that gets activated as the loco-pilot or train driver touches them.

And only if he is found fit after breathing into the breath analyser, will his duty rooster get activated, Senior divisional electrical engineer, Central Railway, Nagpur, Praful Chandra, said.

The technology, meant for loco-pilots and guards of the train is installed at the drivers' and guards' lobby at Nagpur railway station near platform number one, and is monitored by an officer in the office, he said.

The touch-screen also provides full details of last working hours, last working station, rest hours, safety notes including caution order, speed limits and restrictions, Chandra said.

It also has instructions, which the driver has to read to proceed further and sign the duty-rooster. The breath analyser, installed next to the touch-screen, confirms if any amount of liquor is in his stomach, he added.