Rajdhani takes off for 15km without driver mid-route

New Delhi: Passengers in Madgaon-Nizamuddin Rajdhani express had their hearts in their mouths when the train ran driver-less on a downward slope for about 15 kms. As per the source reports, the engine developed a fault and stopped inside a long tunnel near the Ratnagiri station around 5.50 pm. Even as technicians attempted to fix the problem, the train started moving. According to unconfirmed reports, the train driver was in the guard’s cabin at that point and was able to jump on to the engine after the train slowed down near an upward incline.

The engine’s vacuum brake had deactivated, resulting in the train moving on a downward slope. When the train slowed at an upward incline, the driver applied the brakes and stopped it. Even as senior officials said that the train ran “driver-less” for some time, Konkan Railway chairman and managing director, Sanjay Gupta, asserted such reports were wrong. However, he confirmed that a “loco failure” had happened, saying the “train did roll for some time. A high level inquiry has been ordered.”