What caused Kanchenjunga Express crash? Railway board cites human error, ground info indicates signal glitch
Times of India | 18 June 2024
KOLKATA: Even as Railway Board chairman & CEO Jaya Varma Sinha held the loco pilot of the goods train responsible for disregarding the signal that led to its collision with the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express on Monday, railway officials said the automatic signal route on the stretch was malfunctioning for sometime and paper signals or paper line clear ticket (PLCT) were being used instead.
The goods train that rammed the Kanchenjunga Express between Rangapani station and Chattar Hat junction was allowed to cross all red signals on this section as the automatic signalling had “failed”, railway officials conceded on Monday.
The document, a written authority PLCT called T/A 912, was issued to the driver of the goods train by the station master of Rangapani, authorising him to cross all red signals. “Automatic signalling has failed and you are hereby authorized to pass all automatic signals between RNI (Rangapani Railway Station) and CAT (Chattar Hat Junction),” the letter stated.
Railway officials, while acknowledging that the loco pilot was given T/A 912, pointed out that when such a document is given, Railway rules mandate that the loco pilot needs to approach a red signal at 10 kmph, bring his train to a stop as close as possible to the rear of the signal, wait for 1 minute during day time and 2 mins during night time at the signal, and then proceed at 10 kmph.
Also, after passing the signal, loco pilot should ensure that a minimum distance of 150 metres or two clear OHE span is maintained between his train and the preceding train or any obstruction on the line.
“Only a detailed probe can reveal what actually happened but the question is why would a loco pilot (train driver) disregard a PLCT?” won- dered a retired railway engineer.
According to SOP, a train would enter a block station when line clearance is obtained from the advance station. In case of the failure or suspension and non-provision of block instruments (in this case the automatic signal route), the PLCT is issued by the concerned station master as an authority to proceed.
“Were PLCTs issued to the goods train as well as Kanchenjunga Express to cross defective signals at 0-10 kmph speed? Only the probe report by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) can answer these questions,” an official at Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said. Both Kanchenjunga Express and the goods train were moving. “Were both issued PLCT, authorizing them to cross all red signals in the section because of the defect?” asked an official.
According to norms, the driver who is issued a PLCT is supposed to stop the train for a minute at each defective signal and move on at 10 kmph speed.
Sinha told reporters in Delhi that the driver of the goods train violated the signal. Asked to comment, NFR CPRO Sabyasachi De said, “We have no verification at this point whether the automatic signal was malfunctioning or a PLCT was issued to the trains. The focus is entirely on site restoration and reaching out all kinds of help to those affected. Both trains were moving at a very slow pace and Kanchenjunga Express was dashed from the rear by the goods train.”
Questioning the board’s statement that the driver violated red signal, a railway union leader in Kolkata said, “How can they blame the loco pilot who is not alive to give his version?”