Vande Bharat Train Ran 463 Km with Faulty Brakes, South Eastern Railway Orders Probe
New Delhi, November 15, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): A vacant Vande Bharat train travelled 463 kilometres from Jharkhand to Uttar Pradesh in October despite having a severely defective braking system, raising serious concerns about railway safety. South Eastern Railway has now initiated an investigation into the incident.
The incident took place on October 24. The development comes just days before the derailment of the Kolkata–Sairang Express in Assam on November 11, which was also reportedly linked to similar negligence.
South Eastern Railway has described operating a train without adequate braking capacity as a serious safety concern that could lead to a major accident, endangering passengers and railway employees.
Vande Bharat Train Was Being Hauled by a Goods Train Locomotive
The empty Vande Bharat chair car train was scheduled to be transported from Hatia in Jharkhand to Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh using a goods train locomotive.
For this operation, the braking system of the Vande Bharat train was supposed to be properly connected to the braking system of the goods train locomotive. This would have allowed the locomotive to pull the coaches while maintaining braking control throughout the journey.
However, railway employees allegedly failed to ensure that the two braking systems were properly connected. Warnings from the train crew about the problem were also reportedly ignored.
Loco Pilot Reported Weak Braking Capacity
According to an order issued by South Eastern Railway on November 7, the Ranchi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) was directed to investigate the incident.
The order stated that the empty Vande Bharat train had been scheduled to move from Hatia to Jhansi on October 24.
According to the loco pilot’s statement, a brake feel test and brake power test were conducted in the Hatia–Ranchi section as per the existing instructions.
During the tests, however, the loco pilot found that the train’s braking capacity was extremely weak and ineffective.
After reaching Ranchi station, the loco pilot submitted a written complaint to railway officials, including the section controller and traction loco controller, regarding the defective braking system.
Despite the warning, the train was reportedly allowed to continue its journey in the same condition.
Problem Detected at DDU Station in Uttar Pradesh
The issue was taken seriously only after the train reached Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) station in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli district.
An inspection by railway officials revealed that the braking systems of all the coaches had been disconnected. As a result, the brakes in the coaches were not functioning.
The railway order noted that the concerned employees had failed to take action despite receiving information about the poor braking capacity.
Railway Orders Detailed Investigation
South Eastern Railway has directed the Ranchi DRM to conduct a detailed investigation and identify the employees responsible for the alleged negligence.
The investigation will also examine why the train was allowed to continue despite the loco pilot’s written complaint.
The railway zone has called for corrective and preventive measures to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.
It has warned that operating trains without adequate braking capacity can put railway staff and passengers at risk and compromise the safety of train operations.