NCRTC probe finds operational lapses in the derailment case of Namo Bharat RRTS Train

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): Following a recent derailment incident at the Duhai RRTS depot in Uttar Pradesh, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has conducted an investigation into the matter. The probe, which examined the ₹30,000-crore regional rapid rail project, identified lapses by operational staff as the cause of the incident.

Officials familiar with the investigation disclosed that a high-level enquiry committee of technical experts, formed by NCRTC, noted several observations regarding the derailment. NCRTC, responding to inquiries from ET, acknowledged the operational lapse on the part of the staff during the movement of the train within the maintenance depot. However, the NCRTC refrained from specifying the company or officials held accountable for the incident.

The rail operations and maintenance of the corridor are managed by Germany's Deutsche Bahn (DB) owned special purpose vehicle DB RRTS Operations India, while Alstom serves as the supplier of rolling stock, known as the Namo Bharat train, and the signalling system.

In response to the findings, NCRTC outlined corrective measures being implemented. The committee has recommended penal action against the responsible staff and advised them to undergo rigorous refresher courses to enhance their understanding of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Following the incident, speed on the corridor was temporarily restricted. NCRTC clarified that the derailment occurred in the maintenance depot on March 9, during the testing and commissioning phase. The incident involved two wheels of an axle getting off the tracks. NCRTC emphasized that this occurred in a controlled environment, devoid of public service areas, where comprehensive testing of various systems is conducted before deployment on the main line.

NCRTC reiterated the adherence to established safety protocols and SOPs by operational staff and acknowledged that certain provisions of the prescribed SOP were not followed in this instance. Consequently, the responsibility of the concerned operational staff has been determined.

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The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), aims to revolutionize travel between Delhi and Meerut by reducing the travel time to less than an hour at speeds reaching up to 160 kmph. Alstom, awarded a contract worth ₹106 million in 2020, is responsible for designing, supplying, and installing the signalling, train control, and telecommunication system on the RRTS corridor. Additionally, Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB International Operations (DB IO) secured the contract for the operation and maintenance of RRTS over a 12-year period in 2022.