24 April,2014 09:12 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
After the derailment of Saket Express near Asangaon station, Central Railway (CR) officials are enquiring to find the actual reason behind the break down of pantograph
The recent derailment near Asangaon station due to breakage of pantograph the equipment connecting overhead cable that supplies electricity to local trains has left the railway authorities scratching their heads.
A train pantograph is an electrical trolley device which collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. It is carried on a collapsible and adjustable frame and it is fitted to the roof of the train. Representation pic
Officials at Central Railway (CR) are enquiring to ascertain how the pantograph from a local train collapsed on the tracks on Friday that led to derailment of two coaches and engine of Faizabad-LTT Saket Express.
According to sources in CR, the pantograph belongs to Siemens trains that came into operation from 2007. The enquiry, therefore, is not just about the question of maintenance of trains, but also about the newer trains in operation on the suburban line.
These trains were procured by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, on behalf of railway authorities and manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. "The enquiry should bring to light whether there was an issue of maintenance or if the problem budded from the start," said a CR official.
The enquiry will look into aspects like alignment of overhead equipment, if it was uneven, and whether the pantograph and other equipment were not maintained properly or if the issue was with the fitting.
Going off track
On Tuesday, a locomotive of a goods train went kaput at Asangaon station. The incident occurred during late morning hours and not many trains were affected on the line.
