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Hans India
10 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Fire on diesel-laden goods train doused after seven hours, 18 wagons gutted
Chennai: A massive fire that broke out in a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu was fully extinguished after nearly seven hours of intense firefighting on Sunday. The blaze, which erupted around 5.30 a.m., gutted 18 wagons and caused major disruptions on the busy Chennai-Arakkonam rail route. The train was carrying 12.6 lakh litres of diesel in 18 tanker wagons, each loaded with 70,000 litres of fuel. All 18 wagons were completely destroyed in the fire, resulting in a loss of diesel worth approximately Rs 12 crore. Dramatic visuals from the site showed the tankers reduced to a row of charred remains. Southern Railway, in a press release, said the fire is believed to have originated in the third wagon as the train was pulling out of Tiruvallur station. The loco pilot responded by applying emergency brakes, and the station master immediately cut off the overhead electric power. However, the flames spread rapidly up to the 19th wagon, leading to derailments and extensive damage. Railway officials confirmed that the unaffected 30 wagons and the locomotive were safely detached and moved to a secure location. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. Train operations were severely impacted, with at least 12 trains running to and from Chennai Central either cancelled or short-terminated, while several others were diverted. Stranded passengers were accommodated on alternative transport arranged by the authorities, including Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses. Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh visited the accident site and reviewed ongoing restoration efforts. The DOWN line towards Bengaluru and Mangaluru via Jolarpettai is expected to be restored soon, officials said. Meanwhile, three special investigation teams led by the Additional Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been constituted to probe the exact cause of the fire. Preliminary assessments are focused on possible technical faults or lapses in safety procedures during fuel transport. The incident has raised serious concerns over the handling of hazardous materials on Indian Railways, prompting calls for a review of safety protocols.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM reviews progress of Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at Karur railway junction
Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh inspected the work taken up under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in Karur on Tuesday. Accompanied by senior officials of the Salem Railway Division, the General Manager took stock of the progress of work on the station building, entrance, facade, approach road, and other areas. A host of works are under way to give a complete makeover to the Karur railway station under the ABSS being executed at a cost of ₹30 crore, said a railway official. These include improvements to the circulating area and parking facility, facade, improvements to booking and reservation counters and waiting rooms and installation of lifts. Karur is one of the 15 railway stations in Salem Railway Division identified for carrying out a host of improvement work for the benefit of travellers.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Development works at Erode Railway Junction inspected
Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh on Tuesday inspected various development works under way at Erode Junction railway station. He was accompanied by Panna Lal, Divisional Railway Manager of Salem Division and N. Ganga Raju, Chief Project Manager. Mr. Singh reviewed ongoing works, including platform shelter installation, platform renovation, construction of toilets on platforms 1 and 2, the newly established two-wheeler and four-wheeler parking stands, the improved circulating area, upgrades to waiting rooms, seating arrangements, drinking water facilities, and the extension of the portico. Officials briefed him on the status of each project, and the General Manager instructed them to ensure timely completion as per schedule. Erode Junction is among the stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways, which focuses on modernisation and enhanced passenger amenities.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM holds meetings with MPs, Constituency-wise infrastructure development works reviewed
Passenger amenities, introduction of new trains, additional stops, extensions of existing services and station development were among the issues that were discussed at a meeting organised by the Southern Railway's Thiruvananthapuram Division with MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Friday. The meeting reviewed completed and ongoing Constituency-wise infrastructure development works under the jurisdiction of the Division, the Railway said in a statement. Kerala MPs and the MPs representing Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli constituencies in Tamil Nadu attended the meeting with R.N. Singh, General Manager, Southern Railway. The progress on the construction of new railway lines, extensions of existing train services, doubling and electrification works and construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges also were discussed. Focused efforts are underway to improve railway infrastructure in regions falling under the Thiruvananthapuram Division of the Southern Railway, Railway officials said. Ongoing works in Kerala include station redevelopment at Varkala-Sivagiri, development of the Thiruvananthapuram south station as a coaching terminal and redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central and Neyyattinkara stations. Railway officials noted that Ernakulam is emerging as a major hub with large-scale redevelopment underway at both Ernakulam Town and Junction stations. Other major stations such as Alappuzha and Kayamkulam Junction are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Scheme with lifts, waiting rooms and upgraded roofing. In Tamil Nadu, the redevelopment of key stations such as Nagercoil Junction and Kanyakumari under the Amrit Station Scheme is progressing with escalators, platform shelters, and other modern amenities under implementation, the Railway said. Doubling of the Nagercoil Town-Nagercoil Junction-Kanyakumari line has been completed as part of Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari Doubling project, the Railway said. Kerala MPs Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, Kodikkunnil Suresh, N.K. Premachandran, Shashi Tharoor, K.C. Venugopal, Anto Antony, Adoor Prakash, Hibi Eden, John Brittas and Haris Beeran and Tamil Nadu MPs C. Robert Bruce and Vijay Vasanth attended. Manish Thaplyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division, and principal heads of departments of the Southern Railway also were present.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM orders for safety audit of New Pamban Railway Bridge
Exactly one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge on April 6, Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh has instructed the Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO) and Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE) to undertake safety audit on synchronisation of vertical lift span in the new bridge. Consequently, the PSCO and PCEE along with Chief Signal Engineer, officials of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and the original equipment manufacturers would make a detailed site inspection followed by a technical meeting at Pamban Bridge on May 7 and 8. The decision on site inspection was taken during the General Manager's weekly safety meeting held on April 22 in which critical issues related to Pamban Bridge, specifically regarding synchronisation of the lifting system and the auto application of brake were discussed. The GM has instructed the senior officials to resolve the issues at the earliest. The Prime Minister operated the 72.5-metre-long vertical lift for allowing Coast Guard ships to pass under it on the Pamban navigational channel. The movable deck was lifted up for 17 metres. Lift stuck midway However, within a few minutes, when the railway officials attempted to lower the movable deck, it got stuck midway, much to the embarrassment of railway officials. Meanwhile, rail movement continued uninterrupted on the bridge. However, the vertical span was lifted only on April 30 for the first time for passage of big fishing vessels. A railway source said that a preliminary meeting was held with representatives of Control Care Automation that has supplied SCADA system for operation of the movable deck and officials of RVNL on April 28. The meeting underlined various issues that required site inspection with all the stakeholders involved in design, construction, commissioning and testing of the vertical lift span. Representatives of the original equipment manufacturers of all electro-mechanical components, the designers of the bridge, civil contractor and officials of RVNL pertaining to mechanical, civil, electrical and signal departments would participate in the two-day inspection, termed to be high importance, for the safe and uninterrupted operation of the New Pamban Rail Bridge. However, a senior railway official downplayed the conduct of safety audit claiming that the zonal railway wanted to thoroughly check the electromechanical system of the vertical lift.
