We Demand Safe Railway Travel

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1,458

of 2,000 signatures

Decision Makers: Ashwini Vaishnaw - Union Minister of Railways of India

Demands:

Ensure the automatic train protection (Kavach system) is in place on all routes of railways as soon as possible.
Fill up the vacancies in railway staffing (including but not limited to Loco pilots)

What Is The Issue?

On October 12, 2024, the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express derailed in Tamil Nadu, injuring 20 passengers and affecting over 50 train services. Initial investigations point to possible tampering with the tracks and signal systems raising concerns around security vulnerabilities on major railway routes.

However this incident is not isolated. Earlier this month, a goods train derailed near Visakhapatnam. While authorities swiftly restored the tracks, frequent derailment incidents underscore the need for better safety systems. Many other incidents raised concerns over track maintenance and the overall fragile state of railway infrastructure.

Approximately 24 million people depend on the Indian Railways as a mode of transportation, making it one of the world’s largest networks. However, in the first seven months of 2024, there have already been 19 train derailments, resulting in loss of lives and infrastructure, with a minimum of three cases every alternate month. A total of 313 passengers and four Railways employees died in 40 train accidents in FY24, stated the Ministry of Railways in an RTI response.

These accidents bring to attention the lack of safeguards and systems in place to protect passengers using the railways. Why is this important?

The yearly average of consequential railway accidents in India is about 44 accidents every year - in the five-year period ending FY23. A consequential train accident, according to the Indian Railways, includes those with serious repercussions, including injuries, loss of life, rail traffic disruption and damage to railway property.

From recent incidents, there seem to be common themes which need to be identified.

The Kavach system is an automated train protection system developed by the Indian Railways. This system is meant to enhance train safety. However, it is yet to be implemented in many of the stations. In this particular incident, the Kavach system was absent in this route. As of now, Kavach has been deployed in 1,465 Route km and 144 locomotives on South Central Railway. A budget of Rs 1,112.57 crore has been allocated for its installation for the year 2024-25.
Staff shortages in the Indian railways, specifically for the designation of Loco pilot is a concern. Due to these shortages, the work life of Loco pilots includes very little time to rest and frequent overworking. The psychological and physical strain these issues pose to the loco pilots poses great risks to train and passenger safety.

Additionally, according to a senior officer at Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), poor track maintenance, outdated infrastructure improper track alignment, inefficient signalling and lack of upkeep on bridges and tunnels also contribute to the problem.

What Can You Do?

We are demanding action to mitigate the risk of future railway accidents. This includes the urgent implementation of the Kavach system across all railway routes to enhance train safety. Additionally, we demand the filling of vacancies in railway staffing, particularly for Loco pilots, to ensure they have sufficient rest and are not overworked.

By addressing these issues, we can significantly improve the safety and reliability of the Indian railway system for all passengers. Join us in urging the authorities to prioritise these critical measures.

Sources: