Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of an averted head-on collision between two trains in Odisha’s Cuttack, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Tuesday clarified that both the trains, including an MEMU, were moving in the same direction and explained how the Automatic Signalling System played a pivotal role in ensuring safety in such situations.
“When a train driver comes to an Automatic Stop signal, they are mandated to bring their train to a stop behind the signal. Following this, they must wait for a prescribed duration, one minute during daylight and two minutes at night. If the signal remains in the ‘on’ position after this waiting period, the driver must follow specific procedures, including exchanging signals with the guard and proceeding ahead with extreme caution, stopping short of any potential obstructions,” it said.
The ECoR further said that Automatic Signal can turn to ‘on’ position when there is a train ahead, an obstruction on the track, or other causes. In such cases, drivers are instructed to proceed at a restricted speed, never exceeding 15 kmph, even if visibility is clear. They are required to continue with caution, be prepared to stop, and follow any potential instructions until reaching the obstruction or the next automatic signal, depending on the circumstances, it said.
“We wish to assure the public that trains operating within the Automatic Signalling System are moving at permissible speed and with rigorous safety measures in place. Trains can operate at restricted speed within close proximity to each other, maintaining the utmost safety,” it said, while appealing to not spread panic or spread misinformation since the trains were running in accordance with safety protocols and permissible speeds.
“We encourage responsible reporting by all news channels and request that you provide accurate information to the public regarding railway operations and safety measures,” the ECoR added.
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