Train driver and train captain
In late October, we had the opportunity to meet Mr. Pham Quang Thanh, train driver of Engine Team 9 (Hanoi Locomotive Enterprise) when he and his colleagues were checking the locomotive's technical performance, preparing for the next freight train journey.
The train driver monitors the train braking parameters on the cab instrument panel.
Mr. Thanh said that in the past, when freight trains still had train captains, technicians and train drivers like him only had to check the brake status of the locomotive and the train cars. When the railway installed a tail-train device to replace the train captain, most freight trains no longer needed train captains.
"At this time, the train driver is the person in charge of the train and is the highest commander on the train. He both drives the train and has to perform the duties of the train captain, so there are many operations," said Mr. Thanh.
As a train driver, he also has to perform the duties of a train captain, so the most important thing for a train driver is an accident. If there was a train captain like before, the train driver would not have to get off the train, the captain would handle it. But now, the train driver will have to handle the incident and report it to the relevant departments, and the station will coordinate.
"While waiting for the station staff to arrive at the scene, the train driver still has to get off, walk along the train to find the victim's location, determine the situation, make a report... The train driver has to directly handle the situation, so it affects his psychology when controlling the train to continue its journey," Mr. Thanh shared and said that thanks to the station's support, the accident will be resolved more quickly and in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Explaining concerns about the safety of train cars, goods, and theft along the way, train driver Nguyen Xuan Huy, chief driver of locomotive 945 (Engine Driver Team 8) said that the railway industry stipulates that when a train stops, the stations must be responsible for looking after it.
However, in the case of a train stopping at night at a bypass area, if there is a loss or an accident with the lead seal, the train driver will not know. Because a freight train usually consists of about 20 cars, about 300m long, stopping at many stations, while the train driver's main task is still to focus on driving the train safely.
"In case of loss of goods or loss of train car seals, the train driver is still responsible. Therefore, we must strictly follow the regulations to determine responsibility if an incident occurs," said Mr. Huy.
Applying safe driving assistance technology
In principle, the stern device that replaces the train captain will provide the train driver with parameters on the wind pressure from the beginning to the end of the train, and whether the connection is smooth or not. During the train journey, the train driver will monitor the train status through the parameters displayed on the cockpit equipment.
The train driver installs the tail gear on the last freight car of the train.
According to Mr. Nguyen Phong Hai, Deputy Head of Security - Safety Department, Vietnam Railway Corporation, in the past, the head of a freight train working on a car had to constantly monitor the wind pressure gauge, if there was a lack of wind, he would signal the train driver to stop the train, check; or release the wind at the end of the train to support the train driver to brake in an emergency. However, in reality, there was still a "delay" or deviation.
Therefore, Vietnam Railways Corporation decided to use a set of tail train signal equipment to help train drivers know the parameters in time. Specifically, when the tail train device is attached to the last car of the train, connected to the brake pipe, the device will automatically measure the wind pressure and send a signal to the driver's cabin in the locomotive cabin.
The train driver sits on the engine but still knows the status of the train's braking system, whether it is sufficient or not, to handle it promptly; knows if there is an incident at the end of the train, such as a broken car.
"Applying technology and using stern equipment will replace the cargo train captain, reduce labor, reduce subjective factors, increase safety and increase initiative for train drivers," said Mr. Hai.
Train driver Nguyen Xuan Huy said that the train must be inspected to ensure all features and safety measures are in place before it can depart. Before running, the train must be tested for braking, that is, testing the braking capacity and braking effect of the train. Only when the relevant departments have signed a complete report will the train be allowed to run.
Train driver Pham Quang Thanh said that along with the rear equipment, the railway industry also installed cameras on the locomotive to monitor the operations of the driver in the cabin and monitor the journey ahead of the locomotive.
"Having such surveillance cameras is to protect the train driver because the train driver himself will have to comply with the operating procedures. In particular, the journey surveillance camera will record the operations of the train operator, the switchman, the level crossing guard... so they also have to strictly comply with the operating procedures, ensuring the safety of the train driver," said Mr. Thanh.
A representative of Vietnam Railways Corporation said that to support train drivers in ensuring train safety, safety of carriages and goods, the Corporation also stipulates that relevant train drivers must observe equipment when the train passes, and if detected, notify the train driver.
"The positions from the station to the bridge system such as level crossing guards, tunnel guards... are all responsible for performing operations according to regulations to both reduce the workload for train drivers and increase measures to ensure train safety," said the representative.
Bring many benefits
A representative of Vietnam Railways Corporation said that the application of the train tail signal equipment to freight trains was tested in the early 2010s, and then gradually applied widely.
The application of this equipment, in addition to actively supporting the train driver in the process of controlling the train's locomotive, also brings benefits in transportation. Due to limited railway infrastructure, a freight train is forced to limit its length and load. With this equipment, the train will not need a train conductor's car (a car for the train conductor and workers to work), but instead a freight car, bringing efficiency in revenue.
"This is a separate set of equipment. Every time a train runs, the train driver will take the set of equipment out and install it in the last freight car. So far, there have been no incidents or risks related to train safety. It's just that the train driver has additional tasks. That's why we have to apply additional procedures and regulations on the tasks of other related departments," the representative shared.
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/cong-nghe-ho-tro-lai-tau-hai-trong-mot-192231102214331119.htm
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