Dangerous journeys

The horrific collision between the Shalimar Express travelling from Lahore to Karachi and an oil tanker close to Sheikhupura could have been truly catastrophic. The two lives lost and the persons injured are not to be dismissed casually. But given the nature of the incident the death toll could have been much higher. There are still conflicting reports as to the precise reason for what happened. One version says the railway crossing gate was left open, the other suggests the oil tanker’s brakes malfunctioned or that the driver did not stop at the gate. Further investigation is under way with senior Railways officials already visiting the site. The problem, however, is that over past three years we have had more than 10 major incidents on our railway lines, threatening the lives of the millions who still use trains as their main form of travel. Different reasons have been sited — problems with the track, negligence by drivers who have in some cases apparently worked beyond the set limits, and incompetence and neglect by the Railways.

All this requires a thorough review by the authorities. The vast network of train tracks in our country could offer an excellent and cheap way for people to commute for business, tourism or other reasons. We have instead watched a steady decline in the quality of services with bogies in poor conditions and tracks poorly maintained. As a result, we have a crumbling railway infrastructure. Various efforts have been made to repair this, but clearly more is required. People should not have to worry for their lives when using the railways. In this latest accident, at least nine bogies of the ill-fated train caught fire after hitting the oil tanker amidst a massive explosion. Passengers deserve credit for their bravery in rescuing trapped persons and pushing intact carriages of the train away from the flames. There have been so many train disasters that confidence has been lost in the system despite efforts to improve quality of services. This is a huge misfortune. Pakistan Railways was once a profit-making body looked upon with pride by people across the country who utilised it regularly. In an age when air travel can be accessed only by a privileged few and road services present their own hazards, it is crucial we put our trains back on track and ensure they provide the kind of safe service people from all walks of life so badly need. The current squabbling between traffic and district authorities over who was to blame will not help matters. More constructive efforts are needed to remedy the Railways and prevent further deaths.