Aftermath the Bengal train tragedy, Railways review safety
In order to prevent similar mishaps in the future, the railways are conducting a thorough operational assessment of the safety measures put in place following the recent train tragedy in West Bengal, according to authorities. According to the officials, the exercise aims to address concerns about protocols to be taken during failures and improve automated block signalling (ABS) across the national transport system. They said that efforts are also being considered to alleviate loco pilot (train driver) fatigue and enhance signal visibility in the event of severe weather. On June 17, a passenger hauling the Kanchanjunga Express was struck by a cargo train. Ten people were killed when four of the passenger train's coaches derailed, including the guard on the Kanchanjunga Express and the loco pilot of the container train. KC James, secretary general of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, discussed the June 17 accident, comparing it to a similar incident near Rajahmundry on August 29, 2023. He noted that in both cases, two passenger trains were involved, and automatic signals had failed. According to him, messages were issued to loco pilots, but they misinterpreted the instructions due to inadequate foolproof measures in case of signal failures. James also highlighted concerns about insufficient staff deployed at routes with automatic signals, leading to increased workload during malfunctions. Railway worker unions, including representatives from loco pilot and signalling executive associations, expressed concerns over the effectiveness of Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) systems following the accident. They cited a shortage of manpower and inadequate fail-safe measures when ABS malfunctions occur. The recent accident occurred on sections equipped with ABS systems, which cover approximately 4,111 route kilometres out of the total Indian Railways network of about 68,000 route kilometres. They emphasised the need for an urgent review of operations involving ABS systems. An anonymous representative from the All India Railway Signal and Telecommunication Staff Association stated that overburdened existing manpower and a lack of hiring new staff were key factors contributing to signalling lapses. They estimated that Indian Railways needed to increase its safety category manpower by 20%, in addition to the existing workforce of 63,000 in signalling and telecommunications. This concern was reportedly raised with the Railway Board in early 2024. In response to concerns raised, a senior official dismissed worries about automatic signalling, pointing to the Mumbai suburban system as an example where a large number of train services operate daily under automatic signalling.
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