The Railway Ministry wants to know what the different railway zones think about the recent changes in how trains operate. This inquiry comes after the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) advised against these changes, a PTI report said. The CCRS highlighted that there has been a rise in serious accidents and recommended withdrawing the amendments.
Last year, from April 1 to October 31, there were five serious accidents, as compared to only two accidents the year before during the same time. The CCRS thinks that the changes might make train collisions more likely in the future.
What are the changes in train operations?
The worry started when the Railway Ministry changed the rules for how trains move on tracks on July 21 and July 25 in 2023. They allowed trains to move on certain tracks at the same time, which wasn’t allowed before. These tracks are used for moving trains around yards.
Before, if a train was on a main track, other trains on these additional tracks couldn’t move. But the new rule lets trains move on both types of tracks at the same time.
The CCRS didn’t like this change and asked the Railway Board to take it back. They said that although the total number of accidents in 2023-24 was the same as the previous year, there were more serious ones.
5 serious accidents
Out of the five accidents, three were collisions, one was a derailment, and one involved fire. The CCRS blamed some of these accidents on mistakes by the train drivers and signal staff.
They were worried that the new rule could lead to more accidents, especially due to mistakes by train drivers. So, they suggested canceling the changes.
The CCRS also mentioned other safety issues, like installing more safety signals, setting speed limits, using fog safety devices, and providing counseling for train drivers.
The Railway Ministry has asked all railway zones to share their experiences and opinions about these changes. They’ve set up a committee to study the changes and make recommendations.