Indian authorities have stated that the railway disaster, which claimed the lives of at least 275 people in India on Friday, was likely due to a signal failure, according to the railway portal Railway Supply, citing railtech.

railway accident in India

The railway accident is the deadliest in India in over two decades.

According to preliminary investigations, a signal failure led the Coromandel Express onto a loop line used for train parking.

Fasteners for railway industry

“It’s about electronic interlocking. A change that occurred during the operation of the centralization system caused the accident… Who did it and how it happened will be determined after a proper investigation,” said Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, as reported by local media.

While on the loop line, the passenger train soon collided with a freight train traveling at a speed of 128 kilometers per hour.

It is reported that the freight train was loaded with iron ore, making it so heavy that several passenger train cars were overturned by the impact.

In the ensuing chaos, these trains collided with another passenger train traveling in the opposite direction on a different mainline track. It is reported that this train was also traveling at high speed: 126 kilometers per hour.

As a result of the accident, approximately 1,200 people were affected from three sides. Initially, there were reports of 288 fatalities, but this information was later revised to 275. The railway authorities hope to complete the operation to restore and repair the railway track by Wednesday.

Railway news you might have missed:

Equipment for surface treatment in the construction and repair of rolling stock

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit