Indian Railways News => | Topic started by RailXpert on May 28, 2012 - 09:00:26 AM |
Title - Can't ferry bikes in trains: RailwaysPosted by : RailXpert on May 28, 2012 - 09:00:26 AM |
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HUBLI: The South Western Railway (SWR) has banned the booking of transportation of two-wheelers by trains in the Hubli, Bangalore and Mysore divisions following the Hampi Express accident which claimed 25 lives.All railway stations which fall under these three divisions have stopped booking of bikes till further orders. Sources in SWR said that officers probing how one of the coaches caught fire have found prima facie that leakage of petrol from one of the bikes being transported in the train was the reason for the fire.Railway rules stipulate that petrol tank in a bike should be empty. GV Rathod, chief supervisor of parcel deaprtment, Hubli railway station, confirmed the ban.An officer, on condition of anonymity, said that after the accident, teams of officers had conducted surprise raids on some trains in Hospet, Bellary, Vasco, Hubli, Bijapur, Bangalore and other stations in the three divisions and found that there was petrol in most of the bikes being transported in the trains. Finding that some people working in parcel sections were allowing passengers to transport their bikes with some quantity of petrol, SWR has decided on the ban, said the officer.Sources said the administrative department blamed the parcel department for the fire, while the latter claimed that they ensured that no bike had petrol in it. 'Following the order, we have stopped booking of bikes,'' said CN Gangadhar of Hospet railway station parcel department. |