The goods train rammed into the Kanchanjunga Express between Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal on Monday. It was earlier reported that it was allowed to cross all red signals as the automatic signalling had "failed", internal documents show. The document, a written authority called TA 912, was issued to the driver of the goods train by the station master of Ranipatra, authorising him to cross all red signals, a railway source said.
"Automatic Signalling has failed and you are hereby authorized to pass all automatic signals between RNI (Ranipatra Railway Station) and CAT (Chattar Hat Junction)," says the authority letter.
In this regard, it is pertinent to mention that Railway rules mandates that when a loco pilot is given T/A 912 and he has to cross a signal at Red, then he needs to approach the signal at 10 kmph, bring his train to a stop as close as possible to the rear of a signal, wait for 1 minute during day time and 2 mins during night time at the signal and then proceed at 10 kmph.
Also, after passing the signal, loco pilot should ensure that a minimum distance of 150 meters or two clear OHE span is maintained between his train and the preceding train or any obstruction on the line.
It is wrong to attribute that T/A 912 mandates that loco pilot to cross red signals with normal speed.
(With PTI inputs)
