MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
( SHRI R. VELU )
(a) to (e): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4901 BY
SHRI K.S. RAO TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 10.05.2007 REGARDING FIRE RETARDANT
COACHES.
(a) Other than cases of sabotage, the number of consequential train accidents due to
fire during the last three years and the number of passengers killed in these accidents
are as under:-
Year No. of Accidents Passengers
2004-05 10
2005-06 15 15
2006-07 04
(b): With a view to enhance the fire retardancy in railway coaches, Research, Designs and
Standards Organisation (RDSO) have developed specifications for fire retardant furnishing
items/materials to be used in Railway coaches, namely, compreg board for coach flooring,
seat upholstery, curtains, room ceiling laminated sheets for side wall and partition frame
paneling, PVC flooring, and densified thermal bonded polyester blocks for seats & berths.
(c): During 2004-05, Indian Railway and Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais(SNCF)
International had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in different
fields including obtaining expertise/expert advice in the field of improvements in fire
worthiness of passenger coaches. SNCF`s proposal was not for technical assistance in
manufacturing fire retardant coaches but was for building up Indian Railway`s capability
in undertaking simulated fire related studies. This proposal for acquiring the fire
simulation software and training of Indian Railway officials by SNCF International has
been sanctioned in the current year Budget.
(d) & (e): Enhancing fire worthiness of coaches by means of development of fire retardant
furnishing materials is a continuous exercise. Efforts are being made to bring about
continual improvement in this area and more and more sources for manufacture of fire
retardant materials for coaches are being developed for ease in availability of such
coach furnishing materials for use in manufacture and maintenance of passenger coaches.
