Ramanathapuram
The Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), engaged by Southern Railway to conduct tests at the Scherzer’s span in the more than century-old Pamban rail bridge to decide on resuming train services on the bridge, which remained suspended since December 4, has completed the tests and submitted the data to the Southern Railway.
After launching the tests by installing censors on both sections of the span on January 2, a team of engineers from SERC, Chennai, a constituent research laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) completed the tests recently and presented the data to the Southern Railway.
Train services on the bridge to Rameswaram island remained suspended since December 4 after officials noticed cracks in some critical members of the Scherzer’s span and began repair works. The SERC had studied the stress level in the span running empty rakes on the bridge.
The SERC also conducted full load test by running a locomotive with four empty air-conditioned three tier coaches and four general compartments. An official preferring anonymity, said the SERC has submitted the ‘measured data’ to the Southern Railway for it to decide on resuming train services on the bridge. The SERC would present a detailed report with recommendations in a week’s time, he said.
Pointing that the difference between empty rakes and with passengers was very less, the official indicated that the Railways could resume train services after taking adequate precautionary measures such as enhanced maintenance and regular monitoring of the condition of the span.
The railway could monitor the condition of the span regularly by permanently installing sensors, the official suggested. Before engaging the SERC to assess the maximum strain and stress to the critical members of the span, Southern Railway had completed some retrofit works.
