The train accident at Sainthia in West Bengal, which claimed more than 60 lives, was totally avoidable. The error, it seems, was both manual and systemic. There is a system called axle counter, installed 500 metres from a station on either side. It counts the number of axles that cross a particular point where the track changes direction to go to a station. Once a particular number is recorded and stored, the signal on either side of the station that encompasses the standing/moving train that passed the point glows red. This red cannot be turned green — even manually. It is only after the same number of axles cross another corresponding point on the other side that another train can enter the same platform.
Some railway officials claim that the system was functioning properly — which means that the driver missed the signal. But, if the signal had been red, the interlocking mechanism that diverts any incoming train to another track would have ensured that the Uttar Banga Express went to some other railway track. It is clear that this system was not functional in Sainthia.
The Uttar Banga Express, which was proceeding from New Cooch Behar to Sealdah, was running at a speed of 80-90 km per hour. It is another matter that a train at such a speed could not be stopped from a close distance; the driver of the train too had probably not been aware of the presence of another train on the same platform that was slowly starting off towards Ranchi. This is another error — manual in nature. Add to these the fact that the Vananchal Express, which the Uttar Banga Express rammed into, was late by more than five hours.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee must remember that her current job is in the Railways and not in West Bengal. If she feels that winning the West Bengal Assembly elections is more important, she can ask someone from her party to hold the railway portfolio, while she can go to West Bengal.
Apart from strengthening the safety system and tracking trains more diligently, private investments must be encouraged in railways. Strengthening the safety system by way of efficient tracking of trains should also be accorded importance. Private players need to be encouraged to take up various roles in running the behemoth — in security, maintenance of stations, safety systems and, indeed, in running some trains, apart from the government-owned ones.
Raghu Seshadri, Chennai
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