Railways Engineers Raise Alarm Over Hot Axles and Train Partings

The Indian Railways faces safety challenges due to rising incidents of train partings and hot axles. Mechanical engineers stress the importance of investigating these issues and adopting global practices. Key measures include the use of Hot Axle Box Detectors and advanced condition monitoring technologies.

The Indian Railways is grappling with safety concerns as cases of train partings and hot axles increase, raising alarms among mechanical engineers. These incidents pose a significant threat to operational safety, necessitating thorough investigations and implementation of corrective actions.

During a recent conference in Puri, Odisha, principal chief mechanical engineers stressed the urgency of addressing these issues through detailed reviews of global practices and case-specific data. The aim is to identify root causes and adopt the best practices for design and maintenance improvements.

With an average of three hot axle cases reported daily, condition monitoring using AI and new technologies was emphasized. The Railway Board plans to procure Hot Axle Box Detectors centrally, with Northern Railway as the nodal agency. More cases on the Dedicated Freight Corridor suggest the need for upgraded bearings and onboard monitoring systems.

(With inputs from agencies.)