Major error sends Mangaluru Mail down the wrong track
TNN | Nov 23, 2018, 12.26 AM IST
CHENNAI: Passengers travelling on the Chennai-Mangaluru Mail on Wednesday night had no idea it could have well been on the way to Vijayawada in the opposite direction, courtesy a serious signal and interlocking error between Chennai Central and Basin Bridge junction (BBQ).
That no such thing happened was thanks to loco pilot D Benstoy who noticed something amiss and stopped the train, moving at less than 30kmph, before Basin Bridge.
After the train (12601) left Central at 8.22pm, the home signal before Basin Bridge junction (home signal 2A) showed green, but the track point was set towards Korukkupet, instead of Vyasarpadi, a serious safety lapse,.
This is an important track point that is automatically operated. It ensures trains bound for Korukkupet-Gudur-Vijayawada are routed right and those bound for Vyasarpadi-Tiruvallur-Arakkonam routed left. “Routing the train to the wrong track could have been disastrous as it could have collided with another train on that track. The loco pilot even had the green signal to proceed,” said a source.
A senior official said that the wrong inter-locking happened due to faulty wiring after a recent maintenance session. An inquiry has been ordered and will look into the reasons for the lapse, which based on preliminary investigations is attributed to the Signal and Telecom (SnT) department.
Around 8.20pm, sources said, the BBQ cabin official began the process of ensuring track point 50 was cleared towards the Vyasarpadi side. The point, sources added, was not responding to the normal position and was towards Korukkupet side. The train was stopped by the loco-pilot despite the green signal as he sensed something amiss.
Sources said a failure was notified, but around 8.40pm when the signal 2A was once again cleared, point 50 was towards the Korukkupet side yet again. It was later restored around 8.45pm, sources said. The train passed Basin Bridge junction at 8.45pm.
When contacted, Chennai Divisional Railway Manager Naveen Gulati told TOI that action had been initiated with regard to the lapse. This is not the first time such an incident has happened. Around a year ago, a ‘fast’ EMU (suburban service) bound for Tiruttani was routed towards the Gummidipoondi section by the BBQ station master. After this, the Chennai division cancelled operation of fast locals on the route, and moved them to the slow line.
TNN | Nov 23, 2018, 12.26 AM IST
CHENNAI: Passengers travelling on the Chennai-Mangaluru Mail on Wednesday night had no idea it could have well been on the way to Vijayawada in the opposite direction, courtesy a serious signal and interlocking error between Chennai Central and Basin Bridge junction (BBQ).
That no such thing happened was thanks to loco pilot D Benstoy who noticed something amiss and stopped the train, moving at less than 30kmph, before Basin Bridge.
After the train (12601) left Central at 8.22pm, the home signal before Basin Bridge junction (home signal 2A) showed green, but the track point was set towards Korukkupet, instead of Vyasarpadi, a serious safety lapse,.
This is an important track point that is automatically operated. It ensures trains bound for Korukkupet-Gudur-Vijayawada are routed right and those bound for Vyasarpadi-Tiruvallur-Arakkonam routed left. “Routing the train to the wrong track could have been disastrous as it could have collided with another train on that track. The loco pilot even had the green signal to proceed,” said a source.
A senior official said that the wrong inter-locking happened due to faulty wiring after a recent maintenance session. An inquiry has been ordered and will look into the reasons for the lapse, which based on preliminary investigations is attributed to the Signal and Telecom (SnT) department.
Around 8.20pm, sources said, the BBQ cabin official began the process of ensuring track point 50 was cleared towards the Vyasarpadi side. The point, sources added, was not responding to the normal position and was towards Korukkupet side. The train was stopped by the loco-pilot despite the green signal as he sensed something amiss.
Sources said a failure was notified, but around 8.40pm when the signal 2A was once again cleared, point 50 was towards the Korukkupet side yet again. It was later restored around 8.45pm, sources said. The train passed Basin Bridge junction at 8.45pm.
When contacted, Chennai Divisional Railway Manager Naveen Gulati told TOI that action had been initiated with regard to the lapse. This is not the first time such an incident has happened. Around a year ago, a ‘fast’ EMU (suburban service) bound for Tiruttani was routed towards the Gummidipoondi section by the BBQ station master. After this, the Chennai division cancelled operation of fast locals on the route, and moved them to the slow line.
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