Ex-Rail GM Lists 10 Reasons for Train Derailment

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Former Rail Official Lists Reasons for Train Derailment

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, November 13: Cases of derailments of trains, goods and passengers, have now become recurrent. Three coaches of Secunderabad had derailed on Saturday amid mounting such cases in the country.

Former General Manager of the Railways Lalit Chandra Trivedi listed 10 reasons why cases of train derailments in the country are rising. In the last one year, several incidents of train derailments have taken place, including some in which passengers lost their lives.

“Train derailments due to track-related issues are a significant concern in India, which has one of the largest rail networks in the world,” wrote Trivedi on Linkedin recently. He listed reasons for derailments which the Railways should address. His 10 reasons are as follows:

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Poor Maintenance of Tracks: Inadequate maintenance, including delayed replacement of worn-out tracks, sleepers, and rails, can lead to derailments.

Track Irregularities: Irregularities such as uneven rails, misaligned tracks, and inadequate clearance can cause trains to derail.

Rail Fractures: Rail fractures due to fatigue, corrosion, or manufacturing defects can lead to derailments.

Track Geometry Issues: Issues with track geometry, such as improper curvature, canting, or super elevation, can cause trains to derail.

Ballast (Gravel) Conditions: Insufficient or inadequate ballast, which helps to stabilize the tracks, can lead to derailments.

Overloading of Tracks: Exceeding the designed load-bearing capacity of tracks can cause derailments.

Aging Infrastructure: Much of India’s rail infrastructure is aging and in need of upgrade or replacement.

Inadequate Inspection and Monitoring: Inadequate inspection and monitoring of tracks can lead to undetected defects. This needs an innovative and advanced system adaptation.

Human Error: Human error, such as improper track maintenance or inspection, can contribute to derailments.

Weather-Related Issues: Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall or heat, can damage tracks and lead to derailment.

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Trivedi shared statistics between 2015-2020, saying that “42 per cent of derailments were due to track-related issues”. He added that “25 per cent were due to rail fractures”.

Trivedi also stated that “15 per cent of the derailment cases were due to track geometry issues.

Harshkumar Bajpayee, MD Schwihag Pvt Ltd, commented on Trivedi’s post, to list additional reasons for the cases of train derailments in the country. “While coaching rolling stock is capable of 160 kmph, tracks are majorly having upper speed limit of 110 kmph, except few trunk routes with 130 KMPH,” added Bajpayee.

He stated that “large number of permanent speed restrictions, mainly on account of curvature, bridges, tunnels and Ghat sections (graded areas)” could also be a reason for derailment of trains.

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Bajpayee also stated that “poor drainage along the track” could be an additional reason for derailment of trains. He stated that there exists “no boundary wall at most of the places along the tracks while there are more than 10,000 rail-road crossings”.

“There are large number of non-interlocked LC (Level Crossing) gates along the railway tracks. Also, mixed traffic routes with slow moving freight trains running on the same track where fast-moving express train runs result in compromise in track geometry which are speed sensitive,” added Bajpayee.

He also stated that “high embankments at many places as well as bridge approaches cave in during monsoon due to lack of reinforcements like geo textiles, stone piling, etc.” Bajpayee also listed stray cattle and trespassers, infringement to MMD (maximum moving dimensions, on account of unauthorised structures), slums alongside tracks, major water bodies in neighbourhood among other reasons for derailment of trains.

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