Press Release by Com. L Mony

TRAIN ACCIDENTS – FACTS SLEEP IN REPORTS???

Once again the train passengers encountered ill fate when 14266 Dehradun- Varanasi Janata Express was derailed at Bachhrawan railway station, near  Rae Bareli and more than 30 persons were reported to have dead and hundreds injured. All India Loco Running Staff Association expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of bereaved and injured.

As always the reports from Railway Administration say that inability of Loco Pilot to stop the train may be the reason for the incident. When 12677 was derailed at Anekal near Bangalore on 13^th February this year, there was a illusion of bolster failure and over speed of the train. AILRSA had disclosed in press release about deplorable track maintenance and mechanical failure of bogies are the reasons which was confirmed by Commissioner of Railway Safety.

More than 600 Loco Pilots were removed from service on account of Signal Passing At Danger in last 4 years, all over the Indian Railways. No Loco Pilot deliberately passes a stop signal at danger as it risks his life first and then his job. Fact Finding Enquiries are turned to be Fault Fixing Enquiries by Railways and innocent Loco Pilots are crucified if they are alive after accident.Today also the crew had reported brake failure/poor brake power in previous station. The main cause of the deaths is not the derailment but the old coaches which are not anti-telescopic. Accident of 12677 Express near Anekal was an eye opener for Railway administration but  it never learned from mistakes.

Safety committees like High Level Safety Review Committee, High Power committee are formed to study about the occurrence of SPAD and measures to check it. These Committees and the indeed have submitted their recommendations to Railways but these recommendations still sleep in those reports and never implemented so far. Biggest irony is about the Minutes of meeting of Railway Officers on 12.06.12 which also instructs Zonal Railways to implement which is also not done.

AILRSA condemn the attitude of Railway administration to suppress the real facts and demands impartial enquiry to eliminate flaws if any and to implement the recommendations of various Safety Committee reports.

Ernakulam                                                                  L.Mony

20.03.2015                                                 Central President/AILRSA