Date:01/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/01/stories/2007100160320300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Coupling failure delays Chennai Mail

Staff Reporter

Train detained at Kochuveli and Kazhakuttam stations

Train has the ‘centre buffer coupling’ system
High-level inquiry ordered

Thiruvananthapuram: The locomotive and the coaches of the 2624 Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai Superfast Express got ‘parted’ twice at the Kochuveli and Kazhakuttam railway stations on Sunday giving anxious moments to commuters and raising safety concerns.

Railway sources said the loco pilot of the train that left the Central railway station here at 2.30 p.m. stopped the train at the Kochuveli station after noticing coupling failure. The locomotive and the first coach of the train got separated after the engine couple got detached.

The snag was rectified by the authorities and the train resumed journey after a 64-minute detention.

The train had to be stopped at the Kazhakuttam railway station after the loco pilot of the train found that the locomotive could not haul the rake. He immediately alerted the station authorities.

Commuters in the train raised protest against the lethargic attitude of the divisional railway authorities to ensure their safety. Sources said the rake used for the prestigious superfast express train between the State capital and Chennai had the modern ‘centre buffer coupling’ system.

“Other trains have the conventional screw coupling. Although the train has airbrake system, the coaches will move further even when a coupling failure occurs. Coupling failure is rare in rakes having the centre buffer coupling system,” sources said.

Railway version

“The locomotive and the first coach got parted at the Kochuveli station due to coupling failure. Since, we do not want to take any chance, the train was detained at Kazhakuttam as per the instructions of Additional General Manager A.P. Mishra to carry out a detailed inspection,” a divisional railway official said. A special loco carrying top railway officials rushed to the spot from the capital.

Additional mechanical staff from Kochuveli was also rushed to Kazhakuttam.

After rectifying the defect, the train left the station at 4.40 p.m. Railway sources said a high level inquiry would be held into the incident.