Possible track maintenance fault of Central Railway’s engineering department led to Vande Bharat derailment in Pune, finds inquiry

Pune: Officials from Central Railway’s engineering department have been held responsible for the derailment of the CSMT–Solapur Vande Bharat Express in the city on April 27, citing possible deficiencies in their duties towards track maintenance.Confirming the findings of an inquiry launched after the incident, Central Railway chief public relations officer (CPRO) Swapnil Nila said the final report has been submitted. However, no disciplinary action has been initiated against any individual official so far. “We are already in the process of eliminating complex diamond crossings, and this work is underway across the Pune division,” Nila told TOI on Tuesday.The derailment that took place as the train was entering platform no. 3 at Pune railway station, subsequently disrupting train operations across the busy Pune rail corridor for several hours, involved one coach of the Vande Bharat Express coming off the tracks. The incident was significant as it marked the first derailment involving a Vande Bharat train in the entire country. No one was reported as injured.Immediately thereafter, railway officials had indicated that a diamond crossing in the Pune yard was a key factor behind the derailment.

While authorities have not publicly detailed the exact technical reasons that led to the mishap, sources said on Tuesday that deficiencies in track maintenance at the crossing may have contributed to the accident.Hemant Kumar Behera, divisional commercial manager and PRO of Pune rail division, said the crossing where the derailment occurred has since been strengthened as an interim measure. “At this location, the existing 52kg-per-metre rails have been replaced with heavier 60kg rails.

This will strengthen the track structure and improve its longevity. Similar upgrades are being considered at other crossings after detailed inspections.

Simultaneously, track maintenance activities are being carried out on a continuous basis,” Behera told TOI.A diamond crossing is a railway intersection where two tracks cross each other, forming a diamond-shaped structure. The crossing involved in the derailment was categorised as a non-standard diamond crossing, meaning it did not conform to the standard design and specifications prescribed by the Railway Board.Railway officials said the long-term solution lies in the Pune yard remodelling project, work on which has already begun. The foundation stone for the project was recently laid by the Union railway minister.According to Behera, the remodelling project, expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year, includes the construction of six additional platforms at Pune railway station and the elimination of problematic crossings.

“The objective is to increase operational capacity and streamline train movements. Removal of these crossings will significantly simplify traffic handling within the station yard,” he said.In other actionMeanwhile, Pune rail division on Tuesday carried out a surprise enforcement drive against illegal vending on railway premises. During the operation, 27 unauthorised hawkers and vendors were caught selling goods on station premises and aboard trains. Railway authorities recovered fines amounting to Rs54,000. Officials also seized a trolley carrying 35 cartons, containing 420 bottles of non-approved packaged drinking water from platform no.

2 at the railway station.