Master Clock System of Indian Railways | 29 Aug 2024
Indian Railways is set to develop a master clock system to synchronise time across its operations, addressing challenges in safety and accident investigations.
- Currently, timekeeping is manual, leading to discrepancies across zonal railways. This inconsistency complicates investigations into rail accidents, where accurate timelines are essential.
- Key Features of Master Clock:
- These digital clocks will have GPS synchronisation for precise timekeeping through GPS, uniform design across stations, and suitability for both platforms and office areas.
- They include GPS receivers, NTP synchronization, LED illumination, and can send alarms for monitoring.
- NTP synchronization involves using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to align clocks across devices over a network with a standard time source, usually Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), ensuring accurate timekeeping.
- Need for a Master Clock System:
- Safety: Accurate time records are crucial for analysing accidents and understanding event sequences.
- Operational Efficiency: A unified system will enhance train operations and management.
- Technological Advancements: Modern technology demands reliable timekeeping solutions.
- The system will utilise time data from Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC) or the National Physical Laboratories (NPL).
Read More: Evolution of Timekeeping Devices, Atomic Clock.