Mumbai local trains on the Western Railway (WR) are set to get a black box-like system which will record videos and images and enable the main control room to communicate with messages to motormen and passengers. The WR’s tetra-based Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC), now in the last stages of commissioning, has cameras, microphones and digital video recorders with a data back-up capacity of 90 days.

“The cameras with day/night option have an audio feature with a range of up to 30 metres. The image resolution is 0.4 megapixel inside and 2 megapixels outside, with IP 66 protection. The software will also give us the ability to zoom into particular spots. The provision of crew voice and video recording system in the driving cab will help monitor and counsel train drivers for best output,” WR’s chief public relations officer Sumit Thakur said.