NFR Advances Towards Digital Railway Network with New Auto Block Commissioning

NFR Advances Towards Digital Railway Network with New Auto Block Commissioning

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has successfully commissioned Automatic Block Signalling in the Aluabari Gaisal Panjipara section covering 22.9 route kilometres on 21st July 2025, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to modernize railway infrastructure and improve operational efficiency. This section comprises three stations Aluabari Road, Gaisal and Panjipara along with three Auto Huts and 14 Level Crossing gates. Additionally, seven existing Engineering LC gates have been interlocked with the new Automatic Signals, significantly boosting safety at level crossings. This vital development is part of NFRs on-going modernization efforts aimed at enhancing train operations, reducing headway and improving line capacity. With this, N.F. Railway has completed 87.57 RKM of ABS coverage from Ambari Falakata to Panjipara, marking a major step in signalling modernization.

Total Automatic Block Signalling work has been sanctioned for a stretch of 702 km from Old Malda to Guwahati. Earlier, the Aluabari ? Ambari Falakata section covering 66 km was successfully completed. Further, the sections from Panjipara Old Malda, Ambari Falakata Jalpaiguri and New Coochbehar Jorai are planned for implementation during 2025?26. The remaining sections are under active execution and will be completed at the earliest. This phased approach demonstrates NFR?s commitment to systematic, region-wide signalling upgrades for a more efficient railway network.

Following the commissioning, the first train to run on the newly signalled section was the 22301 UP Howrah New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express, which passed Panjipara at 13:40 hrs and Gaisal at 13:53 hrs. Subsequently, the 20503 DN Rajdhani Express became the first train to pass through Aluabari at 14:05 hrs under the new system. With this development, NFR continues to demonstrate its commitment to adopting advanced railway technologies to ensure safer, more reliable and more efficient train operations for passengers and freight alike.