Railway Board orders mandatory braking tests after Assam derailment

New Delhi, Nov 13 – The Railway Board has directed all zonal railways to ensure that the running crew performs a braking test after taking handover of a train, according to Highland Post. The order follows the derailment of the Kolkata-Sairang Express near Guwahati on November 11, which a preliminary probe linked to a malfunctioning main braking system.

Board directive on braking tests

The board’s direction, dated November 11, instructs zones to conduct a safety drive from 12-11-2026 to 18-11-2026 for checking and ensuring the conduct of brake feel and brake power tests by locomotive crew. Any discrepancies must be collated and forwarded to the Railway Board by 20-11-2026. Officials said the directive reiterates existing norms of a braking test that were overlooked in the derailment case.

Probe findings on the derailment

A six-member probe team identified that the BP angle cock, the component primarily responsible for applying brakes in the coaches, was in an isolated condition in the locomotive at Digaru railway station. The report did not name who isolated the system or whether the crew ignored safety procedures before operating the train. Sources said that when the crew took handover at Guwahati, miscommunication led station staff to isolate the BP angle cock as part of a routine locomotive change that had recently been discontinued.

Procedure for brake feel and brake power tests

Under the brake feel test, the crew first attains a speed of 15 kmph and then applies the brakes by dropping the BP pressure to a certain limit, reducing speed to about 10 kmph. "The crew should feel the application of brake and speed should drop to about 10 kmph," the board said.

For the brake power test, the crew accelerates to 60-70 kmph in a passenger train or 40-50 kmph in a goods train, then drops the BP pressure to bring speed down to 30 to 35 kmph in a coaching train or 20 to 25 kmph in a goods train. "The LP (loco pilot) shall observe the effectiveness of brakes and brake power of the train," the board noted. The assistant loco pilot is required to watch and ensure both tests are performed, reminding the loco pilot if needed.

Possible cause of the incident

According to an official, the staff member responsible for isolating the angle cock was on leave when the locomotive interchange was stopped after route electrification. Upon returning on November 11, he isolated the cock as part of his routine, unaware that the electric locomotive would continue beyond Guwahati. The official added that the crew either failed to conduct the mandatory braking tests or relied on regenerative braking together with the main braking system, A-9. The crew may have attempted to use the main braking system while trying to stop near the loop line, only to discover it was dysfunctional, leading to the derailment. (PTI)