Empty Vande Bharat allowed to run 463km despite 'poor power brake'

NEW DELHI: An empty Vande Bharat train was allowed to travel around 463km from Hatia in Jharkhand to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya station in UP despite two loco pilots reporting "poor power brake". An inspection subsequently found that the brakes on every coach had been isolated, "resulting in non-application of joint brakes."The incident happened on Oct 24, as per a document of South Eastern Railway, and posed a potential risk to other passenger trains. In a Nov 7 order, the zone directed Ranchi divisional railway manager to investigate the incident "to ascertain the lapses on part of staff concerned" for taking necessary steps.It highlighted failures on part of staff members. As per the document, instructions were issued on Oct 24 for a freight locomotive to haul the empty Vande Bharat chair car rake from Hatia to Jhansi. News agency PTI, quoting officials, said staff were supposed to integrate the rake's braking system with that of the locomotive for the entire journey.