CRIS and ISRO technology will improve accuracy of passenger information systems through real-time monitoring.
Installation of the Real Time Information System (RTIS) is well underway, with the first phase of installation in 2700 locos likely to be completed end of September.
Phase 1 is being implemented in 21 locomotive maintenance sheds. WAP-4, WAP-5, WAP-7, WAG-9 and WAG-7 locomotive classes homed in these sheds will be fitted with RTIS equipment. Installation has been completed on 1,867 out of 2700 locos so far.
Main components of RTIS
- The RTIS Loco Device comprises of an Indoor Unit, installed in loco cabin, and an Outdoor Unit installed on the loco roof-top.
- The Loco Device is equipped with India’s homegrown GAGAN based geo-positioning system, akin to the US managed Global Positioning System (GPS), to determine the location & speed of the locomotive.
- A Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) based satellite communication system is being used for transmission of loco position to Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) data centre in New Delhi. Data will be transmitted via ISRO’s GSAT-6 geostationary satellite located at 83 degrees East.
- CRIS will process and forward this data to the Control Office Application (COA) server in respective divisions.
- RTIS loco device utilises an Intel Atom processor and adequate memory & Solid-State Drive (SSD).
- RTIS outdoor unit constitutes of Transmit/Receive electronics and patch antennae for all transmitters/receivers.
RTIS Indoor Unit fitted to the LP desk 
Outdoor unit consisting of antenna fitted on Outdoor Unit of the RTIS device
Phase I routes:
RTIS is to be rolled out on the Delhi – Mumbai, Delhi – Chennai, Delhi – Howrah, Kolkata – Chennai and Mumbai – Howrah trunk routes first.
How RTIS will streamline operations:
- Automatic plotting of control charts including mid-section plotting and end-to-end speed profile
- Real-time tracking of locomotives
- Emergency messaging from Loco Pilot to Control Room
- Accurate train running information leads to optimum crew booking & reduction in pre-departure detention (PDD)
- Punctuality Monitoring
- Accurate real-time Passenger information
- Web-based access for real-time loco tracking provided to loco sheds & zonal railways
Sheds where locomotives are currently being fitted with RTIS devices.
| Electric Loco Shed | Division | Zonal Railway |
| GZB | Delhi | NR |
| LDH | Ferozepur | NR |
| LGD | Secunderabad | SCR |
| BZA | Vijayawada | SCR |
| RPM | Chennai | SR |
| AJJ | Chennai | SR |
| ED | Salem | SR |
| TKD | Kota | WCR |
| ET | Bhopal | WCR |
| HWH | Howrah | ER |
| AQ | Nagpur | CR |
| BSL | Bhusawal | CR |
| KYN | Mumbai | CR |
| BRC | Baroda | WR |
| BL* | Mumbai Central | WR |
| BIA | Raipur | SECR |
| SRC | Kharagpur | SER |
| TATA | Chakradharpur | SER |
| WAT | Waltair | ECoR |
| MGS | Mughalsarai | ECR |
| CNB | Allahabad | NCR |
Photo Courtesy: Piyush Sharma