This question is for all train travellers out there! 😀
While on a train journey, have you ever wondered why railway station boards have ‘mean sea level’ mentioned on them?
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No? Are you curious to know why? If yes, we have the answer for you. Read on:
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Along with the name of the railway station written in Hindi, English and a local language, the yellow signage at a railway station mentions the height of the station above sea level. This is done to ensure the safety of the passengers.
Look at this picture for a better understanding:
But why is it there and how does it help?
There are three reasons!
First, when India’s earliest railway stations were being made, knowing the mean sea level helped to build stations and lay tracks in a way that could avoid flooding and high tides.
Second, the sea levels as shown on the signs were used to plan building constructions near the station.
And third, the signs would tell train drivers the altitude they were travelling at, which would help them make decisions about the train’s power and running speed.
For example, when the altitude would rise from 100 metres above sea level to 200 metres above sea level, the driver would know to increase power to keep the journey going smoothly.
Similarly, when a train would come down from a certain height above sea level, the driver would use the yellow signs to figure out the speed they needed to maintain between two stations.
Thanks to the advent of modern technology, this third reason is no longer applicable. Train speeds today are planned and monitored in advance, influenced by many other factors apart from mean sea level, like traffic, weather, time of day, etc. This is why you’ll notice that the mean sea level might not be written on signs at newer railway stations!
Do you understand now? Well, stay tuned with ixigo to gain more knowledge on questions like this! 🙂
Till we meet again, happy travels!
