An investigation into 'Kala Kumaari' almost colliding with the 'Meenagaya' train

A major accident was averted when a popular power set train, known as 'Kala Kumari', which was parked at Kurunegala railway station, started moving forward without a driver and was about to collide with the 'Meenagaya' express train heading towards Batticaloa. The Railway Department has already launched a special investigation into this horrific train accident that was about to occur.

This unexpected incident was reported from Kurunegala railway station between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on the 28th of last month. This train, which was scheduled to run from Kurunegala to Colombo the following morning, was parked at the station overnight as usual. Due to the failure of the train's braking system, it started moving automatically towards Potuhera without any control.

Railway station officials noticed the train moving forward without anyone only after it had passed Kurunegala railway station and traveled about 100 meters. By then, the Kurunegala Station Master and staff, who had already taken action, made strenuous efforts to stop the train, but all their attempts were unsuccessful.

The train, which moved forward uncontrollably, traveled about 400 meters from Kurunegala railway station to a high ground resembling a hill near Nailiya railway station and stopped automatically.

At that time, the 'Meenagaya' express train, running from Colombo Fort to Batticaloa, was stopped at Potuhera railway station and was moving back towards Kurunegala. Realizing the situation, the Station Masters of Potuhera and Kurunegala, as well as officials from the Railway Department's main operations office, immediately took action to contact the driver of the 'Meenagaya' train via telephone. Acting on the message received, the driver managed to stop the 'Meenagaya' train just as it was very close to the 'Kala Kumari' train.

The railway staff states that this swift and collective intervention by the railway authorities and staff prevented a major train accident that could have caused significant destruction.

Although drivers should pay close attention to the functionality of the braking system when a train is parked at a station, it is suspected that at least the handbrake system of this train was not engaged. Alternatively, the Railway Department is conducting extensive investigations into whether this occurred due to some technical fault in the braking system.

It is reported that the cables connected to the handbrakes of these Indian-made power set trains are excessively stiff, and therefore, local railway technicians have removed, modified, and adjusted them. However, a railway station master commented that due to the expired condition of these brake cables, the handbrake system of the 'Kala Kumari' train may have become inoperative, causing it to move automatically.