Rail Fracture

Crack in railway track disrupts rail traffic

By Express News Service - THRISSUR

07th November 2012 10:48 AM

Rail traffic on the Shornur-Ernakulam route was partially disrupted for a few hours after a fissure was detected on the railway track near Ollur railway station, here, on Tuesday.

The crack was detected between the down-line Thrissur and Ollur railway stations at 8 am. After which three trains, including Kerala Express and Mangala Express, were stopped at various stations.

“Gangmen on routine inspection duty detected the crack and alerted the Thrissur railway station. Following this, the movement of trains through the track was completely stopped for half-an-hour,” said Jayakumar, Thrissur station manager.

“The rail services resumed through the line  after welding a fishplate temporarily on the track,” the railway officials said adding that the railway engineering officials rushed to the spot and supervised rectification of the track.

“In winter season, cracks in rail joints are common as the heat in the day time leads to expansion of the metal, which will contract at night,” Jayakumar said.

Earlier, the rail traffic on the route was disrupted for two days after mud caved in at the underpass near the manned level-crossing at Chalakkudy on Friday.