The Central Railway on Thursday clarified that an inbuilt safety mechanism played a crucial role in preventing a potential incident at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Tuesday, April 21.
On Tuesday, two suburban local trains were briefly routed onto the same track at CSMT, after a Badlapur-bound train was directed to Platform 5 instead of Platform 4, where another local was already stationed.
Railway`s statement
Today, in a statement clarifying the incident, railway officials said that a signal remained in place between the two trains, preventing any danger. The internal home signal for suburban platforms at CSMT was red, prompting the motorman to halt the incoming train.
Authorities added that a gap of over 120 metres was maintained between the two trains, eliminating any immediate risk of a collision.
In an official statement, the railway authorities said that while the motorman’s timely reaction was commendable, the railway’s fail-safe infrastructure systems, including the Interlocking System and Auxiliary Warning System (AWS), were instrumental in ensuring passenger safety.
According to a preliminary assessment, the root cause of the situation has been attributed to a momentary lapse in situational awareness, indicating possible human error.
However, officials emphasised that built-in protection systems acted as “electronic watchdogs” and prevented any escalation of the situation.
How the interlocking system prevented the incident
The Interlocking System, a key safety mechanism in railway operations, ensures that trains receive a green signal only when the route ahead is safe.
It also verifies that track points are correctly aligned and locked before clearing signals, thereby preventing collisions, derailments, and other operational risks.
Authorities noted that the system is designed to be fail-safe, meaning any malfunction automatically results in the safest outcome, typically stopping trains, thereby minimising the impact of human error.
Train halted before red signal
Officials said that on the day of the incident, the motorman brought the train to a halt before crossing a red signal, owing to the proper functioning of the Interlocking System.
This timely stop helped avert any potential unusual incident at the busy Mumbai terminus.
Focus on safety through technology and human vigilance
Central Railway reiterated that passenger safety remains its top priority, highlighting the importance of coordination between trained personnel and advanced safety systems.
“The synergy between a vigilant crew and fail-safe technology remains Central Railway’s highest priority,” the statement said.
