Report flags bovine risk to Vande Bharat trains; calls for safety measures  

Vande Bharat rakes, India’s first semi-high-speed trains, are being manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai; Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala; and Modern Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Raebareli. File
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy

The much-celebrated flagship train of the Indian Railways — the Vande Bharat Express — is prone to serious accidents even in cases of a cattle run over, says a report on railway safety. 

The report, accessed by The Hindu, says the leading coach of the Vande Bharat trains was much lighter than the locomotive (of regular trains) and hitting any obstruction or even cattle run over might lead to a serious accident at higher speeds.

The report generated by the Commission of Railway Safety, Ministry of Civil Aviation, explains the safety measures to be taken by the Railways as regards operation of high-speed trains.

Asking the Ministry of Railways to ensure provision of sturdy fencing to prevent trespassing by human and cattle which posed a threat to the trains, the report said level crossing gates should be eliminated in routes where trains were operated at 160 kmph. 

‘Deploy RPF personnel’

Railways should identify regular trespassing locations/cattle ingress and devise suitable mechanism such as deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, regular patrolling and providing subway to facilitate farmers to cross over with their cattle.

Also read: Soon, seating capacity of Vande Bharat Express to be doubled

Vande Bharat rakes, India’s first semi-high-speed trains, are being manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai; Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala; and Modern Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Raebareli.

As on December 26, 2024, a total of 136 Vande Bharat train services are running across the railway network. In 2024 alone, 62 Vande Bharat train services were introduced.

Hundreds of Vande Bharat rakes, including the new Sleeper Class ones for long distance travel are under different stages of manufacturing in the production units. Since the launch of Vande Bharat Express, there have been many cow hits causing damage to the leading coach. 

Also read: Interiors, toilet cabins of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express now made in Sri City

The safety report has flagged the concern specifically saying that cattle hits at higher speed could lead to serious accidents. The alert comes at a time when the Railways plans to operate trains at 160 kmph over several routes. 

The report called for periodic joint inspections by the RPF and other department officials to check and prevent trespassing. Residents of lands abutting the railway property should be sensitised to the dangers of crossing the track. 

While increasing the speed of trains from 130 to 160 kmph, several new permanent speed restrictions were introduced in sections having sharp curves. Presence of large numbers of such permanent or temporary speed restrictions would keep the Loco Pilots under constant stress.

The railways should make sincere efforts to reduce the number of permanent speed restrictions by easing curves, increasing transition lengths and simplifying yard layouts, the report said.

‘Rake safe to absorb cow hits’ 

Asked for his comments, Shubhranshu, former Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, ICF, said the front nose cone of these trains was designed to crumple and absorb some of the impact energy. Additionally, the cattle guard at the front was made to scoop and deflect the obstruction.

He said the leading coaches of Vande Bharat trains were well within the average weight of the coaches. “It is light compared to a locomotive. But that is how trainsets are designed. There is no locomotive at the front and the propulsion power is distributed along the train. Even the EMUs, MEMUs of Indian Railways and all Trainsets anywhere in the world have similar arrangements. It doesn’t make the train any less safe on this account,” he said. 

Mr. Shubhranshu led the Team-ICF that made the first Train18 rake in a record 18 months’ time in October 2018. The rake was named Vande Bharat Express and flagged off between Delhi and Varanasi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019 and was considered as one of the most successful products of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.