New Delhi: The loco pilot (driver) and assistant of the train have been suspended for running the train at a speed higher than the prescribed speed limit. Actually, this action has been taken against the drivers and their assistants of Gatiman Express and Malwa Express. They have been suspended for running the train at a speed of 120 kmph on a section where the speed limit was limited to 20 kmph as a precaution. This incident happened recently, in which the drivers of both the trains violated the precautionary speed limit on the same section i.e. between Jajau and Maniyan railway station near Agra Cantt, where temporary speed restriction has been imposed due to the ongoing renovation work of a railway bridge.
Disciplinary Action
Agra division public relations officer (PRO) Prashasti Shrivastava confirmed the incident and said “disciplinary action has been taken against all the staff concerned”. A railway source said, “In the first incident, the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot of the Gatiman Express violated the advisory speed restriction after the train left Agra Cantt for Gwalior. The Gatiman Express is India’s first semi-high speed train and runs at a speed of 160 kmph between Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi and Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi Junction in Uttar Pradesh.”
bridge repair work in progress
He said, “Just a few days after the Gatiman train incident, drivers of another train, Malwa Express, running between Katra (Jammu) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), also committed a similar violation at the same spot and drove the train at a speed of 120 kmph.” Railway officials say that normally, all superfast and semi-high speed trains are allowed to run at a speed of 120 kmph on the said section. However, recently repair work of a river bridge was started, due to which this limit of 20 kmph has been fixed.
The lives of hundreds of passengers could have been at risk
An official from the operations department said, “It seems that they might have forgotten to slow down the speed of the train on the said section. This is unexpected for the loco pilot and it is a serious lapse as it could have put the lives of hundreds of passengers at risk. Railways take such lapses very seriously.” Railways impose speed restrictions for safe operation of trains for various reasons such as track condition, track repair work, old railway bridges, station yard remodeling etc. Officials said that before boarding the engine, the loco pilot and his assistant receive the complete route chart along with advice and warning speed limits from the concerned operations department and they have to maintain the speed accordingly. (Input-Bhasha)
Latest India News