Andhra Pradesh train crash | Despite safety advisory, railway failed to install voice recording facility

Recording of the walkie-talkie conversations between Station Master and crew, a crucial evidence, has been lost

CHENNAI: A crucial evidence to ascertain the reasons that led to the devastating #collision between two #passenger trains which left 17 people dead near #Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh in October, 2023 has been lost since a #Safety-advisory to install voice recording facility at railway stations was ignored, official sources said.

The accident pertains to the rear-end collision of Train No. 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger with Train No. 08532 Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger between Kantakapalle and Alamanda railway stations in the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway on October 29, 2023.

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In the statutory investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragic collision, Commissioner of Railway Safety (#CRS) Pranjeev Saxena has said that the #LocoPilot of #Train No. 08504 Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train was reluctant to cross the signal in danger. The #Station Superintendent of the Kantakapalle railway station issued a Private Number (a secret code) authorising him to cross the signal in red.

“The role of the Train Manager [#Guard] is suspect as he is the only surviving crew member who could have acted in time to prevent the mishap.. TMR (guard) has sufficient reasons not to disclose full facts as they may implicate him and the Station Superintendent of Kantakapalle,” he said.

With the written record or Train Journal of the #TMR reported “lost” in the #accident and the Station Superintendent overwriting in the Private Number book, the “absence of audio recording of conversation on walkie-talkie makes this inconclusive,” Mr. Saxena said in his report submitted to the Railway Board.

Also Read With Earlier Article: “No evidence of loco pilots watching cricket during A.P. train crash as claimed by Railway Minister”

After the final report recommended that the “Recording of conversations made by Station Masters through walkie-talkie (#VHF sets) shall be ensured by providing VHF receiver-cum-recorder in datalogger rooms”, the #RailwayBoard has directed General Managers of Zonal Railways to install the equipment.

Specific advisory

The #RailwayBoard has only reiterated its earlier instruction. On September 13, 2021, a specific #advisory was issued to General Managers of Zonal Railways to install a facility to record the conversations taking place between the Station Masters and Loco Pilots/Train Managers through wireless communication in the radio coverage area of the station.

The instruction given three years ago was part of the “Action Plan on Accident Investigation/Inquiry” under the “Project for Capacity Development on Railway Safety”, railway sources said, adding that the facility has been installed in some major stations.

Courtesy: The Hindu – “Andhra Pradesh train crash | Despite safety advisory, railway failed to install voice recording facility”