Recently there has been an increase in the incidents of trains colliding with and killing elephants in the Northern, North-central and Eastern Provinces. According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Minister for Wildlife this year so far twelve elephant had died killed by trains and a total of 83 elephants had died from past incidents. In the aftermath of these unfortunate incidents there have been many suggestions these include creating hi tech sensors, early warning systems to safe over and under passes to stop trains colliding with elephants. While going hi-tech or providing safe passages sounds theoretically effective and attractive it would be rather prudent to find a simpler solution that is low maintenance and easily enforced and implemented, and sustainable over the long term. Any solution that is adapted need to be based on the railway traffic code and is easily understood by the train engine drivers as well.

The reasons for trains killing elephants are due to:

The Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation has appointed a committee to come up with solutions and recommendations to address this issue. The committee was supposed to submit these solutions and recommendations on October 25th. As of now what these solutions and recommendations are is not known. In the meantime many other ideas have also been presented by various organizations and individuals as solutions:

IMPORTANT: It is important to conduct research to identify the exact location and coordinates of the elephant corridors and elephant crossing points along the tracks to plan where to install the traffic lights.

The solution proposed by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society could be the most effective solution due to its simplicity. It could also be easily integrated to the administrative and operations policy framework and traffic code and regulations of the Sri Lanka Railways. Most importantly it would be easy for engine drivers to obey however undisciplined or inebriated they are because locomotive drivers must obey the railway traffic commands and signals.

Trains are controlled by their very own ‘highway code’ to keep them a safe distance apart. Railway lines are divided into sections called blocks where only one train at a time is allowed to be. Traffic light signals (either semaphore or color light signals) control trains, with signals showing cautionary yellow and customary stop and go, red and green lights. Trackside signals (either semaphore or color light signals) control the entry and exit from each block including the speed of the trains, warning trains when the line ahead might be occupied, and if they must reduce speed or stop. Just like on the road, along with the traffic lights there are speed limit signs signaling drivers to reduce speeds in built up areas and where there are hazards.

Using traffic colour light signals would be the simplest of solutions to stop trains colliding with elephants in areas where the train tracks passes through known elephant corridors such as along the rail tracks from Maho Junction to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Thalaimannar and Kankasanthurai and on the tracks going to Mannar and Jaffna.

Obeying traffic light signals and their rules and regulations are what engine drivers already know whether they are undisciplined or not and it would be easy for them to respond to such commands easily. They can be held responsible if they run lights and kill elephants.

The Sri Lanka Railways needs to establish a Multi-Aspect Signalling method to stop trains colliding with elephants. The Multi and/or Four Aspect Signalling methods were developed to give advanced warning to trains traveling at or over 50 km/hour that there is a red signal ahead and to give the driver the room to stop. By placing a single or double yellow light placed far enough back from the red signal light protecting the entrance to the block ahead gives the driver a warning and a safe braking distance in which to stop. The caution “yellow” signal is provided a block further back from the “red” stop signal.

Similarly a set of colour traffic lights at the approach to the blocks that pass through elephant crossing points along railways tracks and speed signs will not only warn but also indicate to the train engine drivers to reduce their speed to 10 km/hour. At this speed the train can be easily brought to a stop when elephants are spotted crossing the tracks. The train will maintain a 10 km/hour speed until it sees the “go” green light indicating that the train has now passed the blocks in the elephant corridor and can proceed as usual.

The schematic diagram (Figures 1 & 2) below shows a railway line with a Multi Aspect signaling system installed. It shows how this system would work to stop trains colliding with elephants.

The train travels at usual speed until it sees the double “yellow” light and speed signs which warns the engine driver that he is approaching an elephant corridor and elephant crossing point further ahead and to slow down and drive with caution. The single “yellow” light and speed signs inform the engine driver he needs to travel at a speed of 10 km/hour. The continuing “yellow” light through the corridor (whether elephants are present or not on the track) warns the engine drive to maintain the speed at 10 km/hour. The “green” go light indicates to engine driver that he has passed through the corridor and can resume usual speed.

On a single line where inbound and outbound trains travel on the same set of tracks a set of signal lights will be at each end of the blocks that go through an elephant corridor.

Benefits and Outcomes

The method outlined above is simple to implement and is based on the current train operating traffic codes and regulations. Therefore there is no need to provide engine drivers’ with training to learn a new technology and how to use it.

The overall savings to the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) and to the government of Sri Lanka would be tremendous considering the loss of revenue, damage to trains and tracks, loss of cargo, labor fees and the loss of elephants which is a valuable natural asset of the country.

Installing this system will create a good publicity image for the SLR. In addition with the trains plying at slow speed through elephant corridors opens up new economic opportunities, especially to promote elephant viewing from the train. As elephants begin to feel less of a threat from the slow moving trains they would become comfortable to stay within easy viewing distance. This would provide passengers traveling on the train a unique opportunity to obtain a new exciting wildlife experience. It could be promoted as a night safari by train. By providing several observation cars especially for the purpose of viewing elephants from the train and by launching a strategic publicity and promotions campaign it would be possible to further increase revenue to the SLR. Basically this would be a good example of sustainable development where a situation that caused severe economic and elephant losses is converted to a huge economic gain. If the SLR does not have the capacity to develop such a program it should consider out sourcing it to a private adventure and leisure travel company to create a high end niche market tourism product.

Photo Credits:

Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS
Internet Public Domain

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