Mumbai Local Trains To Get Kavach Train Collision Protection System By 2026

Western Railway (WR) will roll out the indigenous anti-collision technology Kavach on all Mumbai local trains by the end of next year, reported news agency PTI.

Developed under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Kavach is an advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to minimise accidents by taking control when human error threatens safety.

Unlike the Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) currently in use, Kavach ensures real-time communication between trains and signalling stations, enabling automatic braking if a driver passes a red signal or exceeds permitted speed limits.

AWS, though helpful with audible alarms and speed checks, has proven insufficient in critical cases such as Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD).

“The AWS panel in the motorman’s cab has an alarm, a vigilance button, and red, yellow, or blue lights. If the alarm sounds, the motorman must press the button within four seconds, or the brakes will activate and stay locked until the train stops completely,” an official was quoted as saying by PTI.

However, AWS reliance on manual response leaves room for risk.

Kavach, by contrast, prevents rear-end and head-on collisions, continuously monitors speed, and ensures adherence to signalling systems even in low-visibility conditions.

A senior WR official confirmed, “Work has begun on the transition to Kavach. All suburban locals on Western Railway will be equipped with Kavach in addition to mainline locomotives by the end of next year.”

The network, operating over 1,400 daily services on the Churchgate–Virar–Dahanu route with 30 lakh passengers, plans to implement Kavach across 2,358 route km, with commissioning on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor expected this fiscal.

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