Indian Railways upgrades Kavach safety system to version 4.0

Indian Railways has upgraded its indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, known as Kavach, to version 4.0. This advancement is designed to enhance safety for high-speed trains, such as the Vande Bharat, which operate at speeds up to 160 km/h.

The Kavach 4.0 system is capable of autonomous intervention. If a train approaches a danger signal or if a loco pilot fails to react in time to a potential hazard, the system can automatically control the train's speed or apply brakes to prevent accidents.

Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian companies, the technology aims to minimize human error, specifically regarding red signal violations and speeding. The system maintains continuous digital communication between the train, tracks, and signaling infrastructure using RFID tags and radio communication to monitor location and signal status.