Even after 2 days, train derailment continues to delay services on Konkan Railway route

 

Mumbai, 27 Aug 2014 (Mid-Day): Train services are running late on Konkan Railway since a goods train derailed at Karanjadi station on August 24.

 

The derailment left about 500 mtrs of track badly damaged and authorities hd to lay down temporary sleepers and rails to restore services.

 

"Now work is being done round the clock to place new sleepers and rails. This is being done without stopping traffic. Full capacity is likely to be made available in a day," said Vaishali Patange, chief PRO, Konkan Railway.

 

Officials said that it normally takes two days for the services to return to normal after a derailment. In the last two days, there have been severe delays in long distance trains running towards Konkan belt due to the repair work.

 

Sources said that trains were delayed by at least 8-9 hours due to this and many were stranded near Roha and other stations. Konkan Railway has only one line.

 

Earlier News:

Seven wagons of a goods train carrying food grains derailed less than a kilometre away from Karajadi station on the Konkan Railway (KR) at around 6.30 am on Sunday. No injuries were reported.

 

Following the incident, a total of 14 trains were cancelled, out of which seven were Konkan-bound and the remaining Mumbai-bound.

 

“The derailment occurred 62 km from Roha and 40 buses were arranged for transporting passengers stranded in trains that were stuck due to the accident,” a KR official said.

 

Passengers have been refunded ticket fares to the tune of Rs 4 lakh due to the cancellations while 200 men, along with the Accident Relief Medical Van (ARMV), are involved in restoring the railway line.

 

According to sources an inquiry has been lodged by the Indian Railways and a three member committee has been constituted.

 

“Since it is a goods train the inquiry will be conducted by the Indian Railways. It will be important to know the cause of the derailment as passenger trains too run on this line which is the KR’s mainline,” said an official, on condition of anonymity.