Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a groundbreaking update set to transform train safety across the country. In a recent media briefing, Vaishnaw revealed that within the next 10 days, a unified train operation safety norm will be introduced, aimed at addressing the problem of signal failure and standardizing train operations across all 17 railway zones. This move comes in response to critical findings from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) regarding the tragic Kanchanjunga train accident on June 17, where a collision between a goods train and the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express claimed 10 lives, including the loco pilot of the goods train, reported PTI.
The CRS’s investigation uncovered significant discrepancies in the subsidiary rules governing speed restrictions during automatic signal failures, which led to confusion and contributed to the accident. To address these issues, Vaishnaw outlined that a comprehensive review of all subsidiary rules (SR) was initiated. The aim is to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure that safety protocols are uniformly applied across the country’s railway network.
Vaishnaw said that they have already completed the review process and that in the coming 10 days, Railways will release the unified SR rules that will apply to every railway zone, enhancing safety and operational clarity.
Previously, each railway zone had developed its own set of subsidiary rules based on the General Rules (GR) established by the Railway Ministry. However, these local rules occasionally conflicted with the GR, leading to confusion and potential hazards. The Kanchanjunga accident highlighted these critical differences, prompting an urgent response from the Railway Board.
With the new standardized rules, the Railway Ministry aims to ensure that all zones adhere to the same high safety standards, particularly in managing train speed during automatic signal failures. This significant update is expected to greatly enhance the safety of India’s vast railway network, making travel safer for millions of passengers.