Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004 |
| National | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | National
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 14 . The major train accident on the single line Jalandhar-Pathankot section in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab which claimed a heavy toll of passengers today was apparently caused by communication failure. Though the statutory inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety of the Northern region will formally determine the cause of the head-on collision between the Jammu Tawi-Ahmedabad Express and the Jallandhar-Pathankot Local Passenger at Mirthal, Railway Ministry experts are prima facie of the view that the speeding trains could not have been moving on the same track without communication failure. It could either be the result of the failure of the signalling system or human error in providing the right signal and regulating the train. Indications are that the "block instrument signal system" had failed since yesterday. This system envisages a "token" being given to the driver at a station giving the line clear signal to head for the next station. The "token" is deposited by the driver at the next station from where only then the on-coming train can be given the clear signal to move on the same track. The "token" system ensures that two trains cannot be given the green signal at the same time from two successive stations located in a single line section. Apparently since this system was not functioning, the "paper line clearance" system was in force under which the station masters of two successive railway stations interact on the telephone and give a secret clearance number. The sources said that the Express was to be given the "paper line clearance" at Chak Kalan first and after it reached the Bangara railway station, the Diesel Mutiple Unit was to be given a similar clearance. But it appears that both the trains moved ahead on the same track.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
