Inspection reveals 60% of Shalimar Express coaches lacked brakes, says Pakistan Railways

LAHORE: An initial inspection conducted by Pakistan Railways has revealed that 10 out of the 18 passenger coaches of the 27-Up Shalimar Express were operating as 'dummy' coaches, with nine of them—nearly 60 percent—found to be running without brakes and in urgent need of maintenance.

The inspection took place in Sukkur following the recent accident in which the Shalimar Express collided with a stationary freight train at the loop line of Lakha Road Railway Station in Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday afternoon. The findings have raised serious concerns about the safety and maintenance standards of the train's carriages.

Despite these significant mechanical faults, an initial inquiry into the accident has attributed responsibility to the train's driver and his assistant. The inquiry report stated that the driver and assistant driver overshot and failed to control and stop the train, leading to the collision. This conclusion has drawn attention due to the apparent contradiction between the technical inspection, which highlighted major deficiencies in the braking systems, and the inquiry's assignment of blame to the train crew.

According to Pakistan Railways officials, the examination of the Shalimar Express rake revealed that urgent maintenance was required for the majority of the coaches. The discovery that nine coaches were running without brakes has prompted questions about operational safety protocols and oversight within the railway system.

The accident at Naushahro Feroze has put a spotlight on the broader issue of train safety and maintenance in Pakistan. The findings from the inspection and the initial inquiry report are expected to be further scrutinized as investigations continue.