Kochi: ‘Rail fractures’ are alarmingly high in the 110-km Ernakulam-Shornur section, accounting for almost one-third of that reported in the entire Thiruvananthapuram division. It needs track replacement on a war-footing, say sources. “A total of 28 rail fractures were detected in the section as against the total 65 in the entire division from January 2014 to 2016. Even betwen February to August 2016, the section recorded a total of 11 rail fractures as against 22 in the entire division,” says an RTI reply.
The tracks in the section were last replaced in 2004 though they were renewed after that in certain small portions. While a simple crack may not be of much concern, a fracture causing separation of the track could lead to derailment of trains as happened in the Karukutty mishap on August 28. The rail fractures recorded in the remaining sections in the two-year period are Ernakulam Jn-Kottayam- Kayamkulam 11, Allapuzha-Kayamkulam 4, Kayamkulam Jn-Kollam 10, Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram 11 and Nagaercoil-Kanniyakumari one, the reply to the RTI filed by Ajay S Kumar, a Thiruvananthapuram native said.
The rail fractures in the division are higher than that recorded in the neighbouring Palakkad division – a total of 87 as against 34 recorded in Palakkad from January 2014 to August 2016, it said. Interestingly, Southern Railways has recorded the maximum number of rail fractures across the country for the first five months of this year – 43.
Post the Karukutty mishap, the Permanent Way Inspection wing had found serious defects in the tracks at a total of 202 points, including dangerous rail fracture at 31 places. When contacted, an official in the Administrative wing said the works have almost been completed. “However, the speed restriction imposed two months ago is still on in select sections with new fractures being reported during an intense safety check drive,” he said.
