injury to few passengers. When the committee went through the design and specifications of Air Brake System, it was found that the Air Brake system could hold air pressure for 15 hours with the allowable system leak. The detailed report of what happened at the above-mentioned accident is still awaited. 4.9.2 However, from the RDSO Air Brake laboratory test results, the Committee found the Air pressure leaking completely in short a time as 30 minutes in some of the wagons. Thus, the Air Brake system specification of allowable leak rate is not even achievable in RDSO lab. This makes the committee wonder as to how Air Brake system shall hold for 5 hours on a goods train! 4.9.3 The manufacturers of critical valves, pipe joints and hose assembly are not meeting the overall leak rate stipulation for the train formations. This non compliance is a safety hazard requiring thorough investigation, concerning the specification of Air Brake System Leak rate and its enforcement in open line. Accordingly, the staff responsible for Air Brake Power evaluation and assurance must also ensure System Leak Rate for a stationary train formation is within stipulated limits. 4.9.4 The Committee recommends that every train should be checked for formation Leak rate during maintenance in addition to Brake Power Certification.
4.10 Other Items 4.10.1 Weigh-bridges should be installed at all major loading depots and at other places in a way that every loaded wagon is weighed within 50 to 100 kilometers after loading to ensure that the gross load is within prescribed limit and the rolling stock and the track is not subjected to excessive loads / stresses. A uniform operating protocol to deal with over loaded wagon for its detachment should be prescribed by Railway Board for the sake of uniformity. 60