Derailing: PR takes preventive steps

Pakistan Railways' Engineering Branch has declared mandatory fitness certification for trains prior to departure and imposed a strict ban on the use of "dummy coaches" to ensure passenger safety and prevent accidents. According to the directive, authorities will no longer allow coaches with braking systems that are not 100 percent functional to be attached to trains. A formal order has been issued enforcing the decision and emphasising strict compliance. Under the new rules, no passenger train will operate without a valid fitness certificate confirming that all systems—particularly braking—are fully functional. Authorities have issued clear instructions that trains must not run unless these conditions are met. The official letter further states that no dummy coach or any wagon with defective braking can be included in any train rake passing through or departing from the Rawalpindi Division. Divisional Mechanical Engineers (DME) have been directed to inspect each individual coach and wagon, ensuring braking performance meets the 100 percent standard. Any coach, engine, or wagon failing to meet this requirement must be immediately detached from the train. A fitness certificate will only be issued after complete verification of the braking system's performance. The directive warns that any violation of these instructions will be considered a serious threat to passenger safety and will result in strict disciplinary action. The authorities issued the instruction after three trains derailed in one week, raising questions about safety protocols. On Friday, the Karachi-to-Islamabad Green Line Express derailed near Wazirabad while exiting the station. Initial findings suggested the derailment was caused by broken coach buffers. A day earlier, the Karachi-to-Lahore 41-Up Karakoram Express met with an accident near Khanewal Junction when the train split into two sections. As the train entered the loop line at Khanewal Junction, the coupling connecting its coaches suddenly broke, separating the moving train into two sections.