Kanchanjunga Express-Goods Train Collision: East Central Railway suspends use of T/A 912

The Eastern Railway Zone had issued a similar ban on T/A 912 on June 19, only to retract it the following day.

The East Central Railway (ECR) has ordered station masters within its jurisdiction to cease issuing the T/A 912 written authority letter, which allows train drivers to proceed past signals during automatic signalling system failures. This decision comes in the wake of a deadly collision between the Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train, which resulted in ten fatalities.

The suspension was announced in a circular released by ECR on June 21, following a safety meeting attended by the General Manager, Principal Heads of Departments (PHODs), and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs).

The tragic accident occurred on June 17 in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District, within the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. Both train drivers had been issued the T/A 912 note due to defective automatic signalling between Ranipatra station and Chattar Hat Junction. Initial reports from the Railway Board suggested that the goods train was over-speeding, but driver unions argued that the note did not specify speed restrictions, thus absolving the driver of fault.

The ECR circular stated, “It has been decided in the safety meeting held by GM/ECR with PHODs and DRMs that during failure of automatic signal T/A 912 will not be issued until further notice. Instead, the provisions of G&SR 9.02 will be used for double lines until further advice.”

According to G&SR 9.02, in the event of an automatic signal failure, train drivers must stop at each red signal for one minute during the day and two minutes at night. They can then proceed at 15 kmph if the track ahead is clear, or 10 kmph if the view is obstructed, until the next signal.

The Eastern Railway Zone had issued a similar ban on T/A 912 on June 19, only to retract it the following day.

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Regarding the June 17 incident, the Railway Board maintained that the goods train driver should have adhered to a 10 kmph speed limit after stopping at each faulty signal for one minute. However, the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO) contested this, with its working president, Sanjay Pandhi, explaining that T/A 912 overrides the G&SR 9.02 provisions, allowing drivers to travel at the normal speed limit, which can be up to 130 kmph.

Pandhi commented on the ECR’s circular, “This letter clearly shows that T/A 912 authorizes the driver to proceed at normal speed. With its suspension, G&SR 9.02 will now be enforced.” He further emphasized the need for senior railway officials to establish clear and consistent rules across all railway zones and divisions.

With inputs from PTI.