Nellai, Tiruchendur railway stretch gets linked with OFC

MADURAI: Almost a month after commissioning the optical fibre cable (OFC) link between Virudhunagar and Tenkasi railway stations, the Madurai railway division on Monday commissioned its next leg between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur. The exclusive link for railways not only enhances communication at passenger reservation systems and signalling at present but will enable the provision of WiFi facility even on running trains in future.
The 62 km-long 24 fibre optic cable, installed at a cost of Rs 1.98 crore connecting the five block stations out of the 11 like Tiruchendur, Arumuganeri, Srivaikuntam, Seidunganallur and Tirunelveli enhances safety in the block sections. At present, the capacity is 630 channels which is expandable up to 800 channels.
Railway sources said in future the OFC will enable dedicated channel for communication between loco pilots and guards ensuring safety of train operation besides connecting axle connectors of signalling. Axle connectors connected through interlocking at present will have more safety when connected through OFC.
At present, communication between loco pilots and guards takes place through wireless frequency that can be interrupted.
In addition to superior quality of communication, OFC is free from copper and is, therefore, not prone to theft, a great relief to railway officials. This cable connectivity will provide an exclusive connection to operate passenger reservation utilities which at present are dependent on BSNL lines.
Apart from the use by railways in reservation channels and other axle counter utilities the spare capacity will be taken over by RailTel to provide internet facility at stations and in running trains in future as well as for commercial exploitation like providing cable TV in remote areas.
"Like in stations, WiFi facility could be activated in running trains using OFC technology," a senior official from the division said.
On April 8, the 123 km-long OFC link between Virudhunagar and Tenkasi railway stations connecting eight intermediary stations at a cost of Rs 2.64 crore, was commissioned.