Leaky cable to help crew talk in Khandala tunnel on Mumbai-Pune route

MUMBAI: To enhance safety on its tracks, the Central Railway is rolling out a “leaky cable” communication network in a tunnel on Mumbai-Pune route so that loco pilots and train crew members on the last coaches can be in constant touch through walkie talkies. The 2.2 km long tunnel is located near Khandala station, in the Monkey Hill area.

A senior CR official said, “The contract for the laying of these cable is given to Motorola which will procure the equipment and components from Australia and New Zealand.” The work on the project costing Rs 2.5 crore will be completed before the end of monsoon, the official added. This is the first Central Railway tunnel to get leaky cables.

When the train enters this tunnel, communication seizes to exist between train crew due to absence of signal. This poses a major safety hazard as lack of communication between train crew via walkie talkie can lead to delay in relief and rescue measures.

The official said that in case of an emergency during bad weather, it would be impractical for a train crew member to walk along the entire train, which is 24 coaches long, to communicate with the other end. “The tunnels are prone to accidents especially in the rainy season, so this technology can allow faster relief and rescue,” the official added.

Leaky feeders or cables were originally used in underground mines, where it would be impossible for someone to communicate with the surface with a hand-held radio. Leaky feeders have small gaps in the shielding to let the signal through. The gaps create a limited wireless radio network environment.

The system comprises “leaky” feeder cables that provide both transmission and reception for the radio handsets in the tunnels and amplifiers for surface communications. An official said, “Similar cables are used in underground network in Delhi Metro and even Kolkata metro.”