Station and Yards

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Purpose of Railway Station:-
1) To take up or exchange of passengers and goods.

2) To control the train movements

3) To enable the trains on a single line track , to cross from opposite directions.

4) To enable the following express trains to overtake

5) For taking diesel or coal and water for locomotives

6) For detaching engines and running staff

7) For detaching or attaching of compartments and wagons
8) For sorting of bogies to form new trains, housing of locomotive in loco sheds.

9) In emergencies in ease of dislocation of track due to rains, accidents etc...

10) For repairing engines and changing their direction

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Requirements of Railway Station:-
A railway should satisfy the following basic requirements provided for:
1) Public

2) Traffic Staff & Police

3) Trains Requirements

4) Locomotives

5) Development of Railways:

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Public Requirements:
1) A booking office for tickets.

2) Good & Passenger platforms.

3) Drinking Water.

4) Lighting & Ventilation.

5) Waiting Room.

6) Sanitary Arrangements

7) Telephone, Refreshment Room, Inquiry room, etc

8) Display Board

Traffic Staff & Police:

A station should provide facilities to staff to perform their duties in a best possible way

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Trains Requirements:
1) Control of movements by signal.

2) Sufficient number if sidings & platforms.

Locomotives:
1) Proper arrangement for supply of fuel and water to locomotives.

2) Arrangement for cleaning, examining, inspection & maintenance.

Development of Railways:
1) Easy & comfortable approach road to station.

2) Installation of clock for correct time, guide map of city & display boards.

3) Availabilities of coolies.

4) Waiting rooms, underground passages, staircase, escalators, restaurants, etc.

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Factors Influencing The Selection of Site for a Railway Station:
1) Close to town.

2) Sufficient area availability for future development.

3) Fairly level ground.

4) Road connectivity.

5) Site should not be on the curve of railway line.

6) Sufficient quantity of water.

7) Should not be in low laying area.

8) Site should not be on slope.

9) Drainage facilities.

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 Classifications of Railway Stations

Railway stations

Operational Functional

1. Wayside
Block Non-Block
2.Junction
1.Class A 1.Class D
3.Terminal
2.Class B 2.Flag

3.Class C 3.Spl.class
Station can be classified according to operational & functional characteristics as below:
A) Operational Classification: Indian Railway classified the stations as below.

1) Block Stations – Class A, Class B, & Class C in descending order of importance.

2) Non-block Stations – Class D Stations & Flag Stations.

3) Special Class Stations.

B) Functional Classification: Based on their function, stations are classified as below.

1) Wayside Stations

2) Junction Stations

3) Terminal Stations

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A) Operational Classification:

1) Block Stations – Class A, Class B, & Class C in descending order of importance.

 Block station is a place on the railway line at which permission to approach

and authority to proceed are granted.

 Block stations are sort of compartments into which the rail line is divided, are

established so as to safety space the train behind each other.

 Block stations are made at the ends of block section and are equipped with

signals which demarcate the limits of the block sections.

2) Non-block Stations – Class D Stations & Flag Stations.

 These are called Class D or Flag stations.

 These are situated between two consecutive block stations

 They do not define the boundary of any block section.

 Neither telegraphically connected to adjacent stations nor have any apparatus

or staff for controlling the movements of train.

3) Special Class Stations – Those are not covered under A, B, C, & D classes
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Class A Stations: Where the line has to be cleared up to an adequate distance (400m)
beyond the home signal for giving permission to approach to a train.
Home Signal, Starter Signal & Warner Signal.

Class B Stations: Where the line has to be cleared upto an adequate distance beyond the
outer signal before giving permission to approach to a train. Outer signal is used at
distance of 580m from the home signal.

Class C Stations: It is a block hut where no passenger are booked. It is used as a means to
split a long block section so that the interval between successive trains is reduced. Trains
usually do not stop at these stations.

Class D Stations: Station does not define the boundary of any block section. No staff for
controlling movements of the trains.

Flag Stations: Trains are stopped by various ad hoc arrangements. Not connected
telegraphically & no apparatus.

Special Class Stations: Those are not covered under A, B, C, & D classes. 20