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Three days after the tragic crash involving a goods train and Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal that left 10 passengers dead and 43 injured, Eastern Railway has banned issuance of Travel Authority (TA-912) authorising loco pilots to cross signals in red during signal failures
TA-912
The TA 912, a document that the Indian Railways uses to keep trains moving in case of signal failure
When a signal failure in the automatic system occurs, the rules demand that the station master issue a written pass to the driver to cross the red signals.
This written authority is called PLCT (paper line clear ticket) T/A 912.
According to railway officials, when such a document (T/A 912) is given, the loco pilot needs to approach the red signal at 10 kmph, bring his train to a stop as close as possible to the rear of the signal, wait for 1 minute during day time and 2 minutes at night at the signal, and then proceed with extreme caution at speed not exceeding 15 kmph in good visibility conditions and 10 kmph in poor visibility.
The locopilot should also ensure that a minimum distance of 150 metres or two clear OHE span is maintained between his train and the preceding train or any obstruction on the line
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