What Is Electronic Interlocking? How Its Malfunction Led To Tragic Train Accident In Odisha

Aug 31, 2023

Odisha Train Accident: The official death toll has reached 268 and over 1000 were reportedly injured in a train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Friday evening. The three-way accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express, and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the Balasore district. As many as 17 coaches on these two passenger trains were derailed and severely damaged in the accident.

Amid people claiming various reasons for the accident, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday that the tragic train accident in Odisha's Balasore occurred due to a "change in electronic interlocking".

Speaking to ANI, Ashwini Vaihsnaw said, "This is a different issue. It is about point machine, electronic interlocking. The change that occurred during electronic interlocking, the accident happened due to that. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after proper investigation."

He further said that restoration work is going on and normalcy will be restored before Wednesday morning.

Electronic interlocking is an essential part of Indian railways that helps with railway signalling, via which functions in a yard are controlled in a manner that ensures safe passage of trains through controlled areas. Basically, it is a safety measure to prevent signals from being changed in an improper sequence. The aim of this system is that no train gets the signal to proceed unless the route is proven safe.

This system uses electronic control systems and computers to monitor and control the movement of trains. It replaces traditional mechanical interlocking systems that used physical levers and rods to control signals and switches. It uses sensors and feedback devices to detect the presence and location of trains on the tracks and integrates with various systems, such as train detection systems, signals, points (switches), and track circuits, to ensure the safe operation of trains.

The signal becomes red if there is a malfunction in the system generally. As the electronic signal interlocking is a fail-safe mechanism, there could be issues caused by external interference, like human error, malfunction, among others.

"The set conditions have to be met. In this case, the point should have been set on the normal line and not on the loop line. The point was set on the loop line, it is something that cannot happen without human interference," said a signalling expert at the Indian Railways, as quoted by India Today.

According to a railway expert, as reported by India Today, if there is some construction work going, it is possible that the cable wires get cut, and it can be a short cut also.