Snag, oversight tied to Arakkonam derailment

Around midnight, the engine and four trailing coaches of train number 22649 Yercaud Express, which departed Chennai Central at 10 40 pm, derailed near the Arakkonam junction. More than the accident, the way it unfolded has opened a Pandora’s box for authorities, who initially suspected that a combination of engineering failure and manual oversight could have triggered the derailment, which happened at a route diversion point better known as ‘point’ from where a train shifts one track to another.

A senior Southern Railway officer admitted to the derailment happening at the ‘point’ beyond the signal and said the spot of derailment showed that the route interlocking had either not worked completely or the signal panel at the station master’s cabin and the actual point on the track were not in sync. Alignment of the loco’s wheel and track specification at the ‘point’ would also be scrutinised, said the officer.

Sources in the operations department said the driver was piloting the train at 37 kmph, which was within the permissible speed limit on the high-speed track. “While approaching, the pilot saw the signal turn red from green at the nick of the time. He stopped the train, but by then the loco had crossed the signal. It is quite normal because the train cannot be stopped abruptly. He contacted the station master and obtained his consent to pilot the train further. It was when he moved the train across the point that it had derailed,” said an inside source. 

Over 15 Chennai bound express trains were delayed and eight other trains were rescheduled owing to last night’s derailment, which left the high-speed line suspended till 5 pm on Monday when the track was certified fit for traffic. The derailed locomotive was put back on track at 2.45 pm, while the stranded passengers were seen off from Arakkonam around 5 am.