The Hindu : Konkan Railway to run inspection locomotives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

National

National

Konkan Railway to run inspection locomotives

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI June 25. The Konkan Railway (KR) has restored its mountainous and coastal route that had witnessed a serious accident last Sunday, claiming 51 lives and has made elaborate arrangement for the early detection of landslips, the cause of the accident. The train services are expected to be normal anytime now.

The KR Managing Director, B. Rajaram, told reporters here today that the inspection locomotives would ply on the route every two hours. Intensive patrolling of the railway line passing through tunnels and on bridges would be taken up to detect landslips.

Engineering experts, specially trained to detect landslips, would man the inspection locomotives. Besides six locomotives would be deployed to run ahead of the trains on the route to detect and report soil movement or dangers indicating possible landslips, he said.

Mr. Rajaram said that pilot and inspection locomotives, foot patrols and trains would be in constant touch with one another on cellphones.

He said the KR was contemplating installation of a network of electronic rain gauges and an electronic pendulum system to monitor soil movement along the Konkan route to prevent accidents along the 750 km route.

Sunday's accident was a natural calamity, he said, pointing out that the landslip had occurred in an area known for its geological stability.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National