A major mishap was averted when a loco pilot of the Egmore-bound Sethu Express coming from Rameshwaram stopped the train on learning about a fracture in the rails near Maraimalainagar, saving hundreds of passengers on board.
Railway police say an alert gatekeeper waved the red flag on spotting the rail fracture and helped stop the train. However, senior railway officials said the section was automatic and hence the signal automatically turns red when there is a fracture. Another rail fracture was also spotted on the express line near Kodambakkam station.
The sudden stoppage of the train near level crossing no 45 at Maraimalainagar because of the crack affected train movement for an hour from 7.20 am. At least nine trains, including Chendoor Express, Ananthapuri Express, Villupuram-Tambaram passenger, and four EMUs heading to Chengalpet and beyond were affected.
Around 8.45 am, the Sethu Express was allowed to cross the damaged spot at a speed of 10 km per hour after some repairs were carried out.
Not long ago, EMU movement was suspended on the Chennai-Chengalplet stretch because of a similar rail fracture. Gangmen travel by foot and manually check the tracks every day but the fractures are either overlooked, leading to brief disruption in service.
Chennai divisional railway manager S. Anantharaman said the corrosion of rail tracks occurs mainly because of the proximity with the sea and droppings from train toilets. The department changes the vulnerable rails, which on an average have a life span of seven to nine years, through regular monitoring, he said.
