Central Railway pilots optical ground wire technology to improve connectivity and operations

The technology is expected to support projects such as the Kavach anti-collision system, automatic block signalling, LTE-4G wireless networks for rail operations, and internet-of-things monitoring systems for tracks and rolling stocks. The system also allows route diversity, faster installation compared with underground fibre, and easier aerial maintenance.

“OPGW will make railway communication more reliable, speed up projects like Kavach and modern signalling, and at the same time improve mobile connectivity for commuters using railway apps or streaming content on trains,” a railway official said in a statement.

The 96-core OPGW cable has far more capacity than the railway requires for its own operations, using only four to six fibres internally. The remaining fibres can be leased to telecom operators, providing them with high-speed infrastructure along the railway network. Railway officials estimate that leasing the surplus capacity could generate up to Rs 1,000 crore in revenue, making the project a source of additional funds while maintaining the primary purpose of supporting railway communication and safety systems.

Central Railway plans to extend the OPGW technology across its entire electrified network if the pilot is successful. The system will also provide a backbone for future railway safety and monitoring projects, including modern signalling and IoT applications, while offering the potential for revenue generation through leasing unused fibres to third parties.

The OPGW initiative follows Railway Board directives to lay two optical fibre cables along railway tracks across all zones. The Central Railway stated that using the OPGW technology as an aerial earth conductor addresses challenges associated with underground fibre and enhances the reliability of communication paths.

The pilot project was inaugurated at the 110 kV transmission line near Asangaon, Thane, by Dharam Veer Meena, General Manager, Central Railway. The inauguration was attended by Shri Anoop Kumar Agarwal, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer; Hiresh Mina, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division; principal heads of departments, and other senior officers of the Central Railway.