A rare operational disruption unfolded at Gorakhpur Junction Railway Station on August 17 when train number 15566, the Vaishali Express, was halted on platform number two for 50 minutes. The delay occurred after Guard Ramashish refused to signal the outbound train, citing the complete absence of a seating chair inside the guard brake van. Passengers aboard the long-distance service faced significant inconvenience as station officials scrambled to address the issue. Following an initial review, North Eastern Railway authorities deemed the guard prima facie at fault and forwarded a recommendation for disciplinary proceedings to East Central Railway through the Coaching Office Information System (COIS).
Guard Ramashish Cites Retirement Proximity and Duty Constraints
Providing details of the incident, Guard Ramashish submitted a formal written memo to the Gorakhpur Station Superintendent. In his report, he stated that the guard who had brought the train into Gorakhpur also arrived without a chair in the brake van. When Ramashish assumed charge, he found the workstation entirely unequipped. He explained that despite waiting for 50 minutes, the local station administration failed to arrange a chair and table for him. Pointing out that he had only eight months remaining before his retirement, Ramashish highlighted the physical impossibility of standing throughout the journey while meticulously writing every operational entry in the mandatory guard logbook diary. He ultimately managed to continue his duty after securing a small table at Deoria station down the line.
Technical Rake Misconfiguration Led to Missing Seating
According to railway technical standards, modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches are equipped with power cars featuring built-in seating arrangements inside the brake van, along with up to two chairs for guard usage. However, on this specific run, a power car from the Bihar Sampark Kranti train was attached to the Vaishali Express. This substitute power car was disarranged and lacked any chair setup. When Ramashish took charge at Gorakhpur and discovered the missing furniture, he demanded immediate provision and withheld the departure signal until the issue was recorded, resulting in the 50-minute detention at the platform.
Railways Authority Stance and Administrative Action
Railway administration clarified that brake vans in LHB configurations feature built-in seating, and there is no standard policy for issuing loose external chairs at stations. In situations where built-in chairs are unavailable, personnel typically utilize storage boxes or perform duties standing. The Chief Public Relations Officer characterized the guard's refusal to signal the train as severe negligence. Consequently, North Eastern Railway formally registered the lapse on the COIS portal and recommended strict administrative action against Guard Ramashish through East Central Railway.
