Latest news with #CommissionerofRailwaySafety
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
CRS accords clearance for opening of Karaikal - Peralam new BG line for train services
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, Bengaluru A.M. Chowdhary has given authorisation for opening the converted broad gauge railway line from Karaikal to Peralam for operation of train services. The authorisation was issued on Tuesday following a two-day mandatory inspection of the 23.5 km electrified section by the CRS on May 23 and 24. As part of the inspection, the CRS conducted a speed trial run. The clearance has set the stage for resumption of train services on this section, falling under the limits of Tiruchi railway division, after a gap of 40 years. The CRS has given the permission for operation of passenger trains at a maximum speed of 75 km per hour. The authorisation is subject to observance of a detailed set of conditions / stipulations spelt out by the CRS in the communication forwarded to the Southern Railway General Manager, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Southern Railway, Chennai and the Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi. The CRS has made it clear that the stipulations should be complied with before starting commercial services on this section. Essential amenities should be ensured at the stations before the start of the passenger services is one among the stipulations. Karai Kovilpathu, Thirunallar, Pattakudi and Ambagarathur are the stations which fall between Karaikal and Peralam. Barring Thirunallar, which is a crossing station, the remaining are halt stations. Peralam station has become a railway junction with the new line having been laid. Another stipulation is that the gatemen of all interlocked engineering level crossing gates on this section shall be counselled on the working of electrical lifting barrier and manual sliding boom operations, including use of emergency crank handle and emergency key of the sliding boom. Deployment of manpower for maintenance of Permanent Way / Signaling/ Electrical assets and for operation of trains on this section as per norms shall be made to ensure inspection and maintenance of assets; providing Fouling Marks and Distance Blocks at prescribed locations; imparting adequate training to staff in predictive and preventive maintenance of Electronic Interlocking and MSDAC systems installed on the section; provision of height gauges at all subways; counselling of station staff and officials concerned in special precautions to be taken for working of trains in the newly commissioned Peralam Junction and fixing of Station Limit Boards and W/L Boards at standard height are among the host of other stipulations to be complied with. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation had executed the project. Any suo motu dilution in the stipulations by the railway administration shall automatically invalidate the authorisation, the CRS communication further said. 'If passenger train services are not commenced within three months from the date of the issue of authorisation, the CAO, Construction shall inspect the section and certify the section structurally fit for passenger services,' it further said adding that immediate intimation should be given to the Commission for starting of train operations on the gauge converted line.
Mint
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
India-Pakistan conflict: Govt eyes Chenab Rail Bridge for troop, supply movement
With tensions simmering with Pakistan, India's railway ministry is exploring the possibility of opening the world's tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River for the movement of defence personnel and essential supplies, according to two people aware of the development. The Chenab Rail Bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, connects remote mountainous terrain and is crucial for improving access to the Kashmir Valley. Part of the newly completed Kashmir railway network, the bridge, rising 359 metres above the riverbed, enhances strategic connectivity across the Pir Panjal range, helping bypass landslide-prone roads and drastically cutting travel time. While the bridge is yet to open for general passenger movement, its early use can strengthen military logistics and civilian supply chains in the region, said one of the persons cited above. Read this | India steps up economic pressure on Pakistan, seeks to block third-country trade 'The trail of the last leg of Kashmir Rail project has tested stability and strength of tracks with test trains running at a speed 110 km per hour on the 180-degree rising grade. This could facilitate any train load required for movement in current tense times. The infrastructure has been developed to support both civilian and military movement," said the the other person cited above. Safety inspections of the railway line between Katra and Banihal, the last segment of the Kashmir train network, were completed earlier this year by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. It would be made available for running freight and military trains for faster, safe, and efficient deployment of troops and equipment, as well as essential items, said the first person cited earlier. Queries sent to the ministry of railways remained unanswered till press time. M.K. Gupta, a former member (engineering) of the Railway Board, said the bridge and other railway infrastructure in Kashmir are fully equipped for both civilian and military use. 'Government policies follow a uniform structure for developing infrastructure projects. Like at other places, railway infrastructure in Kashmir, including the world's tallest Chenab bridge, is fully capable of handling all kinds of movement including carrying troops and heavy military equipment," he said. Earlier this year, the Railways had aimed to open the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar route for passenger movement, but last-minute work delayed the launch, the first person said. However, the line has already been tested multiple times for train movement of all kinds, and top government officials have been informed that it could be opened for military and essential goods transport in the interim, the person added. Read this | India to fast-track hydropower plans on Pakistan-bound rivers after treaty suspension Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier indicated that the route, along with a Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat train, would open soon, covering the distance between the two junctions in just over three hours. He did not specify a timeline for commercial operations. Katra-Banihal: The most challenging stretch The 111-km Katra-Banihal section, part of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is one of the most technically demanding railway projects undertaken in India post-Independence. It traverses the young Himalayan range, notorious for geological challenges, and predominantly involves tunnelling—97.42 km out of the 111 km. The longest tunnel, T-49, stretches 12.77 km, making it the country's longest transportation railway tunnel. This segment also includes the iconic Chenab Bridge, the highest railway arch bridge in the world, and the Anji Khad bridge, Indian Railways' first cable-stayed bridge. The seven stations in this section—Khari, Sumber, Sangaldan, Sawalkote, Dugga, Bakkal, and Reasi—are built partly inside tunnels or on bridges due to space constraints, and the entire section is electrified. Also read | Mint Primer: Does Pakistan have the wherewithal to fight India? Beyond the Kashmir Rail network, dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) on the Eastern and Western fronts are already facilitating rapid military logistics. Designed for heavy freight, the DFCs enable swift transport of military gear, including tanks, a critical advantage during potential conflict scenarios.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mizoram rly project to be ready by July, loco reaches Sairang
Aizawl: A trial train engine successfully arrived at Sairang, the western outskirts of Mizoram's capital Aizawl city, on Wednesday for the first time ever, as the Northeast Frontier Railway (NRF) is expected to complete the 51.38km Bairabi-Sairang broad-gauge railway project by July. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Another trial engine was expected on Thursday as part of the ongoing trial operations. The NRF officials said the project was 95% complete, with Rs 7,714 crore expended out of the total estimated cost of Rs 8,215 crore. The railway line is expected to become fully operational by July, pending final inspections by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), ministry of civil aviation, scheduled for May or June. In Aug 2024, the CRS approved train operations on the Bairabi-Hortoki section following successful inspections and speed trials, permitting operations at speeds up to 100km per hour. This marked a major milestone in the project's phased rollout. The near-completion of the Bairabi-Sairang railway line marks a historic moment for Mizoram as it connects the state more closely with the national railway network. The Bairabi-Sairang line is a key infrastructure initiative under the Centre's Act East Policy with the main aim to enhance connectivity and economic integration in the northeast region. The line features four stations: Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang, and Sairang-Sihhmui, and includes 32 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 89 minor bridges. Notably, the tallest pier, P-4, stands at 104m, which is taller than the Qutub Minar. The Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge line is expected to improve transportation in Mizoram by reducing travel time and logistics costs while improving tourism activities. It also aligns with India' strategic goals under the Act East Policy, which seeks to strengthen trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia.
India Today
25-04-2025
- General
- India Today
Mishap averted near Chennai after officials find bolts removed from rail tracks
A potential disaster was narrowly averted near Chennai early Friday morning when officials discovered that multiple bolts had been removed from a track-changing mechanism on the fast UP line, used by trains heading towards the main a routine inspection at 1.15 am, a railway official noticed missing critical nuts and bolts from the point machine — a device that controls track alignment — near Thiruvalangadu railway station. This area in northern Tamil Nadu is part of the Chennai-Arakkonam-Bengaluru railway corridor, a crucial and busy official promptly informed higher authorities, triggering a swift response from a technical team. Initial findings revealed that two nuts and bolts had been removed from the fast UP line and one nut and bolt from the slow UP line (track used by passenger or local trains that stop at many stations), raising serious safety concerns. The fast UP line had last been used at 11:30 pm, and a train was scheduled to pass shortly after the alert. Officials suspect that the bolts were deliberately removed by miscreants, as such displacements are not typical during regular operations.A major accident was avoided due to the automated safety system, which activated a red warning light on the station master's panel at Thiruvalangadu. Acting swiftly on the warning, the station master withheld the green signal, forcing the incoming train to stop. Had the signal been cleared, the train could have been diverted onto a loop line, increasing the risk of derailment and potentially repeating the Kavarapettai incident from October October 11, 2024, the Bagmati Express, travelling at high speed, passed a green signal intended for the main line but was instead diverted onto the loop line, where it collided with a stationary goods train. The collision derailed about 13 coaches and left several passengers injured. A parcel-cum-power car caught fire from the impact. Timely emergency braking by the loco pilot likely prevented further casualties, as suggested in the preliminary report by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
