The Tiruchirapalli division of Southern Railway appealed to the railway commuters to follow safety norms to ensure safe travel. In a message issued by the division as part of the annual safety week observations (March 1 to 7), the divisional railway manager has sought the cooperation of travellers and rail users in ensuring safe operations of trains.
Tiruchirapalli Division of Southern Railway serves 13 districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with tracks extending to a total distance of 1,267 km. The division runs 170 express and passenger trains on an average every day, in addition to goods trains. It is taking efforts for safe operations by ensuring safe tracks and maintenance of rolling stock and signaling equipment. There is also an established system to ensure proper training and fitness of the staff of train operations. Out of a total of 585 level crossings in the division, 221 are unmanned and 364 are manned. As the level crossings that are vulnerable to accidents are being converted into road over-bridges (ROBs), road under-bridges (RUBs) or limited use/ height subways (LUSs/ LHSs) based on the traffic volume. In some cases, the unmanned level crossings are also converted into manned ones. Closure of unmanned level crossings with less patronage or connecting them with the nearest level crossing by providing approach roads is being done with the district administrations.
Safety awareness campaigns are being held to enlighten the public while using the unmanned/manned LCs, to educate the travelling public in preventing fire on trains, avoiding carrying of inflammable materials and alcohol, smoking in trains, grazing of cattle near tracks, roof travelling or trying to climb on top of coaches and footboard travel.