In the wake of the June 17 accident, where a goods train collided with the stationary Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, killing 10 people, the need for standardized training became evident. The subsequent investigation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety identified misinterpretation of rules in the automatic signaling system, implemented in January 2023, as a cause of the accident.
The Indian Railway operates two systems: the Automatic Block System and the Absolute Block System. In the Automatic Block System, trains run based on automatically-regulated signal aspects. Conversely, the Absolute Block System allows only one train to operate between two stations at a time.
“To understand the two systems, let’s presume there are two stations A and B, the distance of which is called one block section. So, in an Automatic Block System, signal aspects can allow multiple trains to run in the same direction on a single track one after the other between A and B stations,” a signal expert explained. “This is not possible in the Absolute Block System. In the Absolute Block System, when a train departs from station A, until it crosses the next station B, no other train is permitted to enter from A towards B,” he added.
The Railway Board’s August 16 guideline introduces two new training types: Periodical and Newly Commissioned Section for station masters and pointsmen. Station masters and pointsmen will undergo a one-day orientation course on the Automatic Block System every six months, conducted by Station Supervisors or Traffic Inspectors.
During the commissioning of a new automatic signaling system section, station masters will receive “two days training by concerned sectional TI (traffic inspector) and SSE (Senior Sectional Engineers) for issuance of a competency certificate to work in the Automatic section,” the guidelines mentioned.The guidelines also mandate “intensive counseling by Sectional TI every two months in the first year, and after that, a periodicity of every six months shall be introduced. This shall also be applicable for new joining from Absolute Block System to Automatic Block System.”Similar training modules are introduced for train managers and pointsmen. Besides standardizing training, the Railway Board is working toward unified operational norms in the Automatic Block System railways.
Recently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in a media briefing that the ministry is working to harmonize subsidiary rules (SR) across all 17 railway zones. This initiative follows the Commissioner of Railway Safety’s identification of contradictory subsidiary rules as one of the factors in the June 17 Kanchanjunga train accident.
“The intensive counselling and periodic training aim to ensure that our staff are well-prepared to handle the nuances of the Automatic Block System, which will ultimately enhance safety and efficiency in train operations,” the Railway Board’s statement emphasized.
As efforts to improve safety protocols and standardize procedures continue, the implementation of these new training guidelines reflects the Railway Board’s commitment to addressing the gaps that led to the Kanchanjunga Express tragedy. The enhanced focus on training and unification of norms aims to prevent such accidents in the future and improve overall railway safety.
