Indian Railways reviews safety measures after Kanchanjunga Express accident

Indian Railways is conducting an intensive evaluation of its safety measures following the current prepare accident in West Bengal, with the purpose of stopping related incidents sooner or later, in accordance with officers.
The evaluation will deal with enhancing computerized block signalling (ABS) throughout the railway community and addressing points associated to protocols to be adopted throughout system failures, in accordance with an ET report.Additionally, the evaluation will study measures to scale back loco pilot fatigue and enhance the visibility of indicators throughout heavy rainfall.
On June 17, a tragic accident occurred when a container prepare collided with the Kanchanjunga Express, ensuing within the derailment of 4 passenger coaches and the lack of 10 lives, together with the loco pilot of the container prepare and the guard of the Kanchanjunga Express.
Railway employee unions have raised considerations concerning the position of ABS after the current accident, citing a scarcity of manpower and insufficient fail-safe measures when the system malfunctions.

The accident passed off on sections the place ABS techniques had been operational, and it’s estimated that these techniques are purposeful on solely 4,111 route kilometres (RKM) out of the entire Indian Railways community of roughly 68,000 RKM. The incidence of accidents on this small portion of the community emphasizes the necessity for an pressing evaluation of how operations are dealt with over ABS techniques.
KC James, secretary normal of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, identified the similarity between this accident and one which occurred close to Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, on August 29, 2023. “Two passenger trains were involved in that case and automatic signals had failed there too. Messages were issued to loco pilots, but they misunderstood the instructions,” he stated. James additionally highlighted the shortage of foolproof measures in case of sign failures and the elevated workload on employees when malfunctions happen.
A consultant from the All India Railway Signal and Telecommunication Staff Association, who wished to stay nameless, acknowledged, “Overburdened existing manpower and lack of hiring of fresh staff are the primary reasons for lapses in signalling operations. We estimate that the Indian Railways needs to hire 20% more manpower in the safety category to complement the 63,000-strong existing workforce in signalling and telecommunications.” This concern was reportedly delivered to the eye of the Railway Board in early 2024. The Indian Railways usually installs computerized signalling on double or a number of line sections with excessive visitors density to allow the operation of extra trains with minimal detention.
However, a senior official refuted the considerations about computerized signalling, citing the Mumbai suburban system as a major instance of its profitable implementation, the place numerous prepare providers function day by day with out important points.