Train jumps signal on CR, services hit

MUMBAI: A suburban Titwala-bound suburban train on Friday jumped the signal at Masjid Bunder, leading to the disruption of local services on Central Railway (CR).

The CR cancelled five suburban services and local trains were delayed by 20 minutes in the afternoon. A motorman who was operating the train in question has been suspended and an enquiry has been ordered against him, said a senior railway official.  

Sources also said that the motorman overshot a point, which is a section of the track that enables a train to change from one line to another. Despite that, the train was allowed to run up to Dadar station. “The train was cancelled at Dadar station and it was sent to the Kurla car shed,” a source said.       

According to CR, the incident took place at 11.38 am and the point was restored at 12.00 pm.

In rail terminology, jumping the signal is called ‘signal passing at danger’ (SPAD) where a motorman or a loco pilot does not halt the train despite a red signal.

According to the Railways, SPAD is considered a major threat to the safety of passengers.

A senior railway officer said, “This is a serious issue. In the past month three such incidents have occurred. We will examine why these incidents are taking place so frequently.”   

Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer of CR, told The Asian Age, “An inquiry has been ordered into this incident as per the procedure laid down by the railways.”