Yelagiri Express crew replaced at Perambur after train passes red signal

The operating crew of the Yelagiri Express was replaced at Perambur station in Chennai on Thursday evening after the train passed a stop signal. The incident, which occurred at approximately 6:00 PM, prompted railway officials to immediately halt the train and order a departmental inquiry into the safety violation.

According to railway officials, Train No 16089 Yelagiri Express was departing Perambur station on its journey to Yelagiri when the loco pilot allegedly passed a red signal. In railway terminology, this incident is classified as a Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD). Railway authorities view a SPAD as one of the most serious operating irregularities in railway signalling because it can compromise safe train movements.

Immediately after the signal was passed, an alert was relayed to the control office. Following the alert, the crew was contacted through railway communication channels, and the train was brought to a halt. The locomotive crew was then taken off duty and replaced with a fresh crew before the train was allowed to resume its journey.

The change of crew caused a delay for the passengers on board. While railway officials stated that the crew replacement delayed the train by around 10 minutes, passengers on board disputed this claim, stating that the train was delayed for more than 40 minutes.

In the wake of this safety-related incident, a departmental inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the Signal Passed At Danger. Railway officials stated that the inquiry will examine all possible factors behind the incident. The investigation will look into crew fatigue, distraction, the medical condition of the crew, their compliance with operating procedures, and other operational aspects.