A major tragedy was averted when a coach-bogie split from wheel trolley of the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam passenger very close to Alappuzha railway station around 11.30 am on Thursday. There were eight passengers in the bogie and none was hurt.
The train’s bogies have been in service for more than 22 years, according to sources. The second compartment from the engine split from the rest of the train and was dragged for at least two metres till the engine stopped fully damaging the toilet and luggage section. The accident was owing to rusting of the solebar connecting the bogie and the wheel trolley. It resumed journey around 12.40 pm without three compartments.
Train services were delayed for some time.
“The bogies were at least 22 years old. This is the case with most trains running in state. The possibility of similar mishaps happening is high as now the gap between two periodic overhaul (POH) has been increased from 12 months to 18. Even the intermediate overhaul period has gone up from six months to 12,” railway sources added.
There is no workshop in the Thiruvanthapuram division where the POH can be carried out. “Rusting of solebar, a longitudinal beam running along either side of the coach onto which the bodywork is mounted, can be detected only through POH.