The engine and a compartment of the Tiruchirapalli-Palghat Town Passenger derailed near the station here today but no one was injured, officials said.
Sujatha Jayaraj, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, said the Diesel-engine driven passenger train derailed just about one thousand metres from Erode Junction on Erode-Trichirapalli line.
"No one was injured and all the passengers travelling in the train were safely taken to the Erode Railway station and were allowed to travel to Palghat by Mangalore bound West Coast Express train which would stop at all the stations from Erode to Palghat," the official said.
Train driver Sampathkumar said he had applied the brake and stopped the train as he heard a loud noise. When he got down, he noticed that the diesel engine had derailed and also the first compartment.
The train had secured the green signal when it was near Erode around 3.55 pm and it was running at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour,he said.
Railway officials said a major accident was averted because of the timely action taken by the driver.
Due to the derailment, there will be delay in departure of Chennai bound Mangalore-Chennai 16608 train from Erode Junction.
