LAHORE: A fact-finding committee probing Monday’s goods train derailment near Rahim Yar Khan has sought data of the recording equipment (black box) installed in the engine to ascertain causes behind the accident.

It cross-examined 30 officials on Thursday and recorded statements of some eye witnesses.

“The committee comprising Nisar Memon (Chief Engineer, Open Line), Rahat Mirza (Chief Mechanical Engineer) and Amir Baloch (Chief Operating Superintendent) has sought report of the data recording equipment that has been sent to Karachi for the purpose. Hopefully, the committee will receive report from Karachi by Friday (today),” a senior Pakistan Railways (PR) official told Dawn. “Since the engine is of PR’s Karachi division, its equipment has been sent there.”

The report of the data equipment of the 4000 HP locomotive is important to know engine’s running, speed, applying of brakes (normal & emergency), any technical problem, stoppages, timings of operational actions etc. It will also help the authorities in verifying claims of the driver, fireman/assistant driver, train examiner, permanent weigh inspector and other related staff.

Answering a question, the official said the engine was new and absolutely fit for the operation. During the derailment, no problem occurred with the locomotive since it passed along with 17 coaches as the remaining 17 coaches went off the track. “Hopefully, the team will complete and submit its inquiry report to the PR headquarters by Saturday (tomorrow),” he said.

In a joint certificate (JC), technical officials who first reached the spot on Monday had identified three reasons that led to the derailment -- weak track, flaws in train marshalling (a job of making sequence of the bogies), loose joint (in the track) that should have been tightened with nuts and bolts. The technical staff also mentioned buckling of the track at the time of passing of the train that finally led to its derailment. “Though a JC or the preliminary investigation report, under the PR laws and standard operating procedures (SOPs), is also considered as important, the engine’s black box report would be helpful in determining the claims made in this report,” another official said.

On the other hand, passengers continue to suffer as the PR’s train schedule remained disturbed on the fourth consecutive day after the accident. Passengers lodged complaints about delayed arrival/departure, lack of information from PR staff. “Rather than facilitating us, they are behaving with us rudely,” complained a passenger waiting for the train at the Lahore station. “No one knows when we will leave for Karachi,” he added.

According to PR Lahore division authorities, various express trains including Business Express, Awam Express, Pakistan Express, Tezgam departed late. “But some trains such as Akbar Express, Jafar Express and Shah Hussain departed on time,” a spokesman said.

He said the train schedule between Lahore and Karachi would be normal by Friday (today).

Meanwhile the PR Lahore divisional mechanical engineer awarded cash prize along with appreciation certificate to driver Muhammad Hanif Ghazi for averting derailment of the 15-Up Karachi Express near Kot Lakhpat on March 27.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2019