KOCHI: For the first time in the state, Indian Railways has decided to implement Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) system in Kerala. A contract for this has been acquired by K-Rail and Rail Vikas Nigam. The total cost of the project is expected to be Rs 156.47 crore.

Automatic signaling will be implemented on a stretch of 102.74 km from Ernakulam Junction railway station to Vallathol Nagar railway stations, which is before Shornur. As per the contract, the project has to be completed within two years.

The advantage of the project is that the interval of services passing through the line will be reduced and the practice of holding trains will be reduced. This will allow more trains to run. Once the construction is completed, the capacity of the rail will increase by three times. With the introduction of automatic signaling system, signal posts will be installed at intervals of one to one and a half kilometers. That way the trains can run one after the other.

Currently, only after a train in front reaches the next station, which is seven kilometers away, another train can pass. When automatic signaling comes, three trains can follow each other. Now only one train can pass between the two stations. The signal works as and when the trains passes through the track. The officials also informed that the feasibility will be checked by conducting a survey on the fixed rail tracks before the construction works begin.