Check rails placed at crossovers to curb derailments

Worried after the three recent incidents of new-age train derailments, the railway authorities are now placing an additional piece of track at the crossovers, where trains move from fast to slow line, of four stations.

Worried after the three recent incidents of new-age train derailments, the railway authorities are now placing an additional piece of track at the crossovers, where trains move from fast to slow line, of four stations.

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Called check rail this additional piece of track is fixed to the existing line to give the train's wheels more room while shifting from one line to another at crossovers.

“These check rails have been fixed at these crossovers as an extended safety measure for trains while moving from one line to another,” said S. Gupta, chief PRO, Western Railway.

The safety track has been fixed at a cost of Rs 12 each at Mahim, Mumbai Central and Goregaon and it would soon be installed at Santacruz.

It is found that whenever trains have to crisscross from slow to fast tracks or vice versa, it makes a screeching sound as it moves slowly.

On July 11, when one of the bogies of a new-age violet-white train derailed at Mahim station, some rail officials were of the view that the body of the train found it difficult to negotiate the curve causing friction though the wheels while taking the turn.

However, others believe that sufficient tests — on tracks and in simulation — have been carried out before introducing the new-age suburban trains.

“These trains have undergone several tests and trials and use modern technology,” said another railway official, requesting anonymity.

There are around 94 violet-white trains running on the suburban line on both Central Railway and Western Railway.