Driverless train moves few metres at Anand Vihar station

Just a week after seven railway employees, including senior officers were suspended as an express train with passengers on board travelled few kilometres without any engine in Odisha, a similar incident was reported from a yard near Anand Vihar railway station on Saturday when an engine rolled for a few metres without any driver.

According to senior officers, it was around 2:33 pm when a shut-down diesel railway engine which was resting on a line at the yard line number 5A, which is an extra shunting line between Platform number 1 and 2 at Anand Vihar railway station, rolled for about 40 metres. "The engine derailed at point one east end by 3 wheels. All movements were safe and other train movements are normal. The driver has been suspended and an enquiry has been ordered," said a senior railway officer.

Seven railway men were suspended in connection with lapses that led to 22 coaches of an express train with passengers on board to travel a few kms without an engine in Odisha, last week.

The possible disaster was averted after the alert staff put stones on the track and brought the Ahmedabad-Puri Express to a halt.

While five railway personnel were placed under suspension this morning, two had been suspended soon after the coaches of the train rolled down the track at Titlagarh in Balangir district.