How are trains run in the fog?
Due to restricted visibility in thick fog which pervades northern India in particular during the winter months, trains are known to get delayed and schedules get thrown haywire. Obviously, these delays have their genesis in the fact that the drivers can’t see the signals at sufficient distance and have to reduce speeds when approaching signals, so as to be able to take action considering the aspect of the signal as and when it becomes visible. Earlier, drivers used to check their speeds based on their own judgment and feel. This led to some drivers being exceedingly slow out of caution, while others occasionally overshot signals out of an anxiety to not be seen as ‘dragging their feet’. Northern Railway decided to lay down instructions as to how the drivers should move in fog. These instructions are given below. Northern Railway : Train Operation during fog Automatic Block System: In automatic signal territory, the maximum speed of a train is restricted to 30km/h during dense fog. Depe
