Smart Railway System Using Arduino
Nowadays, Railway is the backbone of transport. Many train accidents still happens worldwide. This Project explicitly deals with one of the most common problems that are traffic jams besides a Railway crossing because Level crossing gates are kept closed for no reason or late in arriving of train wi
2025-06-28 16:29:23 - Adil Khan
Smart Railway System Using Arduino
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject SummaryNowadays, Railway is the backbone of transport. Many train accidents still happens worldwide. This Project explicitly deals with one of the most common problems that are traffic jams besides a Railway crossing because Level crossing gates are kept closed for no reason or late in arriving of train will increase road traffic.The train accidents cause severe damage to life and property.
In general, level crossing gates are operated manually by a gate keeper. The gate keeper receives the information about the train arrival from a near station. When the train starts to leave the station, the station in-charge delivers this information to the closest gatekeeper to get ready. In situations where the train is late due to some reason, the gates remain closed for long durations causing dense traffic jam near the gates. Sometimes the negligence of gatekeeper may cause any severe incident. If a human or any object is detected on the railway track, driver of the train intentionally or unintentionally tramples the object rather to apply brakes.
To solve the above problem, we have come with an idea that would making a driver-less train and automatically control the Railway gates at junctions. The main objectives of this project are to save the important lives and atomize the unmanned railway gate at level crossing. This human intervention can be avoided by automating the process. In this way, it would decrease the cost of a driver in the train and gatekeeper at the junction, the time of the traffic would not be waste and the gate will close/open automatically. The sensors will sense and detect the train and it would send the signals to the motors connected with gate of the crossing. Whenever the ultrasonic sensor detects any object which is far from the train then it will stop the engine and apply emergency brakes.
The proposed system uses infra-red sensors to detect the arrival and departure of trains at the railway level crossings. The ultra-sonic sensor is placed in the front of the train that will check the object detection throughout the whole journey. We will use Arduino to control the train and also opening/closing of gates automatically. The system uses two IR sensors to detect the arrival and departure of train. When the arrival of the train is sensed, signals are provided to the traffic indicating the time of arrival of the train on the track and also show indicator lights. When the sensor detects the train then the signal turns red and the motor operates to close the gate. The gate remains closed until the train completely moves away from the level cross. When the departure of the train is detected by the second sensor, the traffic signal turns green and the motor operates to open the gate. Thus the electric locomotive train without driver and automation of the gate operations at the railway level cross makes our system fully automated and the risks of lives are totally minimized. Generally, this project would be achieved using sensors and Arduino UNO.
Project ObjectivesObjective 1: Design an effective Smart Railway System.
We wanted to be a part of our surrounding with some change and advancement so that it can bring the better life of the middle class and lower class people to travel in high security and advanced loco motions. The train is one and only most widely used transportation. Pakistani railways are not able to facilitate the customer properly due to crowded amount of people. There are number of causes for which an accident can occur, some of them are; lack of training for driving or less experienced, use of mobile phone while driving, unskilled drivers, driving while intoxicated, and negligence in traffic management, careless behavior of people on railway crossings. We want to change the conventional system into automatic one. Accidents on railway crossings and throughout the whole track could be minimized.
Objective 2: Design an Automatic Railway Gate. Controller
The objective of this paper is to provide an automatic railway gate at a level crossing replacing the gates operated by the gatekeeper. The system reduces the time for which the gate remains closed. This type of gates can be employed in an unmanned level crossing where the chances of accidents are higher and reliable operation is required. Since, the operation is automatic; error due to manual operation is prevented. The system works on a Arduino UNO with the help of IR sensors .The arrival and leaving of the system is monitored and the gate is operated accordingly.
Objective 3: Electric Train System
We want to change the diesel locomotive trains to Electric Traction. Electric locomotives with on-board fueled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas turbines, are classed as diesel-electric or gas turbine-electric and not as electric locomotives, because the electric generator/motor combination serves only as a power transmission system.
Electric locomotives benefit from the high efficiency of electric motors, often above 90% (not including the inefficiency of generating the electricity). Additional efficiency can be gained from regenerative braking, which allows kinetic energy to be recovered during braking to put power back on the line. Newer electric locomotives use AC motor-inverter drive systems that provide for regenerative braking. Electric locomotives are quiet compared to diesel locomotives since there is no engine and exhaust noise and less mechanical noise. The lack of reciprocating parts means electric locomotives are easier on the track, reducing track maintenance.
Objective 4: Autopilot Train
The train will run on auto pilot mode. Use of electricity will reduce the environment pollution and hence fuel is saved for other road vehicles. The train is controlled with the help of Arduino UNO.
Objective 5: An effective effort to match the Developed Countries
As the progress level of our country is very low. This project will help our developing country to match the technology of developed countries.
Project Implementation MethodThe railway gate automatically closed when a train passes through the railway crossing. The Railway crossing controls boom barriers by utilizing an IR sensor, two micro servos and six diodes. IR-sensor is responsible for detecting on coming trains which then enables the boom barriers to close. The warning lights consist of one white and two red diodes each. The white diodes is programmed to flash constantly unless when the IR-sensor detects an oncoming train, then the two red diodes will be flashing instead.
The rail gate at the level crossing is operated according to the train coming towards the level crossing. The gate is always up position and when a train comes towards the level crossing the rail gate is pulled down. When the train passes the train a certain distance from the level crossing then the gate is
pulled up. In our proposed model we have used two servo motors. The motor is operated from 0 to 90. Initially the gate is perpendicular to the ground and when the gate is pulled down then it becomes parallel to the ground. In our proposed system the gate is placed two meters apart from the both side of the level crossing. Gates, signal lights and alarm are synchronized by the control unit. When the train comes towards the level crossing the controller switches on red signal lights, starts alarm generation and pull down the gate at a time. When the controller observes the train passed then the level crossing it immediately switches off the red signal, switches on green signal, stops alarm generation and pull up the gate at a time.
- Arduino UNO (1)
- IR Sensors (2)
- Servo Motors (2)
- Diodes (6)
- LCD Display (1)
- LED Lights (6)
- Jumper Wires
- Battery (1)
When the driverless system powered, the engine starts and two diodes located on the front of the train became lit simultaneously. The ultrasonic sensor located on the front detects any obstructions, the engine responds by shutting down immediately. Hence, train stops after a few seconds. The range of ultrasonic sensor will be set in a way that train must be stopped behind the obstacles or objects.
To implement this proto type, we will require following components:
- Arduino UNO (1)
- Ultrasonic Sensor (1)
- Diodes (2)
- Wires
- Battery (1)
Advantages:
- Compared to steam powered trains, electricity can power a longer train for much greater distances and at faster speeds. Electric trains are also very economical in the way they convert fuel into kinetic energy.
- Electric trains don’t cause Air Pollution.
- Automatic railway gate control systems reduce the time for which gate remains closed.
- This type of gates can be employed in an unmanned level crossing where the chances of accidents are higher and reliable operation is required.
- Reliable of machine which operates the train without a driver.
- Automatic operation prevents errors due to manual operation.
- Reliable of machine which operates the railway gate even without gate keeper which makes its useful for operation at unmanned crossings.
- Lastly, no human resource is required. This makes its running cost very low compared to manned train and gates.
- By removing the driver from the train, the human-risk factor is reduced and overall safety and reliability of the system increases, in terms of operational costs of a driverless railway system, less train drivers equal cost savings, although more staff are recruited for other tasks, automated acceleration and deceleration patterns help with energy recovery and savings contributing to environmentally friendly driving and cost savings.
| S. No. | Equipment Name | Details |
| 01 | IR Sensors | Infrared sensors to sense the train. |
| 02 | Servo Motor | The motor will use to open/close the gates on railway crossings. |
| 03 | Ultra-Sonic Sensor | This sensor will detect the object in front of the train to apply brakes. |
| 04 | Arduino UNO | Components will be programmed. |
| 04 | Power supply | The train will be run on electric supply. |
| 05 | LCD display Panel | To show the information about the arrival of train. |
| 06 | Card Board | All project is placed on this board |
| 07 | Train | Toy Train |
| 08 | Misc. /Other Expenses | Misc. Items |
S. No.
01
02
03
04
04
05
06
07
08
Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry TransportationOther IndustriesCore Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Climate ActionRequired Resources| Elapsed time in (days or weeks or month or quarter) since start of the project | Milestone | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Starting report and collect literature review | Starting report writing |
| Month 2 | Innovative ideas related to project | Innovative ideas related to project |
| Month 3 | Simulation based work on Arduino IDE AND Proteus | Simulation based work |
| Month 4 | Testing the circuits on Bread Board | Testing is done. |