|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 17 February 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Four stops for express trains: Sequel to Rambukkana train disasters by ANTON NONIS The manner in which derailments occur resulting in death and destruction to life and property has compelled commuters to have second thoughts about train travel. Records maintained by the railway from 1997 to 2001 shows that there had been 134, 110, 124, 107 and 95 derailments on running lines, respectively. The Transport Ministry, in a bid to avoid such incidents, has requested the railway authorities to give priority to safety of passengers. They are also requested to maintain trains at manageable levels to be decided at their discretion depending on the situation. The General Manager of Railways, Priyal de Silva, has given instructions to stop the intercity trains, the Udarata Menike, the Podi Menike and other express trains at the signals between Kadugannawa and Rambukkana. As such, these trains will be stopped at on four locations: Balana, Ihala Kotte, Kadigamuwa and Rambukkana. The aim is to break the speed and have better control of the train. But some quarters have shown the dangers inherent in this process. It tends to create opportunity for robberies in trains as these four stops are in woody locations by organised gangs. However, according to the G.M.R., such activities have to be stopped by other means. "Safety of passengers is the main idea", De Silva said. He said, stopping of trains helps to cut down the speed along slopes and also will enable drivers to have better control of it. The other advantage was to keep the station masters duty conscious in these stations. There had been many occasions when they were found sleeping when the train arrived. In the recent derailment at Rambukkana of the Intercity train from Kandy to Colombo, sixteen persons have died up to now and several have suffered serious injuries. Investigations conducted by a five-man team from the railways and an independent three-man commission appointed by the Transport Ministry have yet to be completed. According to a high ranking railway official the derailment at Rambukkana could be due to three reasons. Defective brakes, lack of competence of the driver in tackling a tricky point along the track and lastly, a defective track. This disaster had taken place within five months after the derailment of the Udarata Menike express train at Yattalgoda, last August 18, which had been travelling from Badulla to Colombo. There were 11 deaths and injuries to many. Investigations had revealed that the accident was due to track defect. The official on the Rambukkana incident said there had been a major failure of the dynamic braking system in the train. He said that the train had not responded to the dynamic system of stopping the train. The driver had applied up to the fourth notch in the braking system. But they had failed in bringing about the required retardation. The driver could have tried up to the seventh notch in this manner. But, he had not tried the remaining of the notches, 5th, 6th and the 7th. Instead, had gone in for the next method of braking, the vacuum-brake system. But, trying up to the fourth notch caused a time lag. It made the train gather momentum. It picked up and had started to move fast along slope. The official said that the application of vacuum brakes, hence, was ineffective and could not stop the train. It was approaching the Kiriwallapitiya level crossing which was on a curve. This was closer to Rambukkana station. The derailment had occurred at the curve. Though the dynamic braking system was not effective up to the fourth notch, the official said that the fifth, sixth and the seventh notches were in working order and might have stopped the train. Unfortunately, the driver was unaware of the state of the notches from the fifth to the seventh. According to railway engineers, the centrifugal force (outward force) acting on the train was high at the curve. The tendency was to push the moving train off the track at the curvature. The fixing of a guard rail at curves prevents such a possibility. It is the view of some of the Intercity drivers that no proper maintenance had been carried out at this point for some time. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
