17 February,2009 11:30 AM IST | | Surender Sharma
Delhi Metro served another heart-stopper on Monday evening. A train went on to the wrong track at Vishwavidyalaya Metro station because of a signaling system error.
In November, MiD DAY had first reported how two Delhi Metro trains had escaped a major tragedy by seconds when they were headed towards each other on the same line.
The incident has happened an ominous 13 days after opening of the extension of Central Secretariat-Vishwavidyalaya Metro Link to Jahangirpuri. It happened at around 6.15 pm, rush hour in Metro, when each train carries up to 1,500 passengers.
The train went on to the other track at Vishwavidyalaya station instead of going straight on to Jahangirpuri. Earlier, Vishwavidyalaya was the terminating point on that Delhi Metro line.
Delhi Metro spokesperson Anuj Dayal confirmed that a Jahangirpuri bound train went on to another track at Vishwavidyalaya Metro station.
He said the incident had happened because of the signaling system failed.
"The train had to go to Jahagirpuri. The passengers were de-boarded at Vishwavidyalaya Metro station and sent by another train," he said.
"However, there was no possibility of any collision. Such a thing can't happen in Metro."
However, not all Metro officials agreed.
"A train could have been there on the other track, and they would have collided if automatic breaks failed," said an official, requesting anonymity.
Delhi Metro trains are equipped with automatic brakes which come into force as soon as trains get closer than 30 metres of each other. But collision happens only if brakes fail," said the official.u00a0
| Past brush |
| 'A similar incident happened in November 2008 when two trains came on the same track at Central Secretariat Metro and a major collision got averted. ' One of the trains also failed to activate its automatic brakes. ' Three people were apparently suspended, including a senior officer |
