Causes behind train accidents

Infrastructure defects:

The railway infrastructure, which includes tracks, bridges, overhead wires, and rolling stock, is often defective due to poor maintenance, ageing, vandalism, sabotage, or natural disasters.

Much of the infrastructure was built in the 19th and 20th centuries and has not been upgraded to meet the growing demand and modern standards. The railway system also suffers from a lack of funds, corruption, and inefficiency, which hamper its development and maintenance.

Moreover, many routes are operating at over 100% capacity, which increases the risk of accidents due to congestion and overloading.

Human errors:

The railway staff, who are responsible for operating, maintaining, and managing the trains and tracks, are prone to human errors due to fatigue, negligence, corruption, or disregard for safety rules and procedures.

Human errors can result in wrong signalling, miscommunication, over speeding, or overlooking defects or hazards. The railway staff also lack adequate training and communication skills, which affect their performance and coordination.

Signalling Failures:

The signalling system, which controls the movement and direction of trains on the tracks, can fail due to technical glitches, power outages, or human errors.

Signalling failures can lead to trains running on the wrong track, colliding with other trains or stationary objects, or overshooting stations.

Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs):

UMLCs are places where railway tracks crossroads without any barriers or signals to regulate traffic. UMLCs pose a high risk of accidents as vehicles or pedestrians may not notice the approaching train or may try to cross the track when the train is near.

Weather conditions:

Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, snowstorms, or extreme heat, can impact track conditions, visibility, and the overall safety of train operations.