Chennai: An empty coach of an express train proceeding to the yard at the Tambaram railway station derailed after colliding with a diesel locomotive on Monday, Southern Railway officials said.
However, nobody was injured in the incident that occurred this morning nor was there any disruption in the movement of rail traffic, they said. The Southern Railway has ordered a probe into the matter.
At about 5 am, a diesel shunting engine smashed side-on into a rake of the Kollam Express between Chennai Egmore and the Tambaram yard, sending it off the rails. The train was being taken to the yard for maintenance when the incident happened.
On being informed, Railway officials arrived at the spot of the derailment and began investigations. Sources said, after two hours the derailed coach was re-railed.
According to the top officials, the brakes of the shunting engine failed and that resulted in the collision. Fortunately, there was no casualty or injury due to the incident but on the impact, one coach was damaged.
An official railway spokesperson said passenger train movement on other lines was not affected due to this incident. “An inquiry has been ordered,” he said. It is a serious safety lapse on the part of the operations department. It has also resulted in damage to a passenger coach, he added.
Meanwhile, the Tambaram railway police registered a case and started an investigation.
