Optical ground wire system launched to strengthen train safety and communication

According to Central Railway, the OPGW system is a pathbreaking initiative designed to provide a faster, more reliable backbone for railway communication. Unlike conventional underground optical fibre cables (OFC), which face challenges of damage and longer installation timelines, the OPGW is installed as an aerial earth conductor on overhead equipment (OHE) masts and portals, allowing quicker execution.

The new technology will support critical projects such as KAVACH, the indigenous train collision avoidance system, Automatic Block Signalling, LTE-4G wireless communication for train operations, and Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS), a modern networking technology.

Railway officials said the system offers several advantages. It will install two fibres on either side of the track compared to one in underground OFC, ensuring greater capacity and reliability. The fibres are enclosed within power lines, making them safer and more secure. Since they are aerial, maintenance is comparatively easier. The initiative also enables route diversity, optimises use of OHE assets, and reduces costs.

Central Railway highlighted the additional earning potential of the technology, as surplus fibre capacity can be leased to external agencies to generate revenue.

“This initiative will accelerate the digital transformation of Bharat and strengthen the safety and efficiency of railway operations,” a Central Railway official stated.

The move follows Railway Board directives to provide two optical fibre cables on each side of tracks across all zones. With this launch, Central Railway has become the first railway zone in the country to adopt OPGW technology, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in railway innovation.

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