Pune, 27th May 2026: The derailment of the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Express at Pune railway station yard on April 27 was caused by an engineering error linked to faulty guard rail spacing, according to the preliminary report submitted by Central Railway’s inquiry committee.
The incident was the first accident involving a Vande Bharat train in the country.
Following the mishap, railway authorities formed a three-member committee to investigate the cause of the derailment. The committee’s initial findings stated that the accident occurred during engineering work carried out in a block period, leading to the front wheel of the coach slipping off the track.
The derailment took place near a diamond crossing inside Pune station yard, where the distance between two rails had reportedly widened beyond the standard limit. Officials said the wheel lost alignment due to the excessive gap. Since the train was moving at a speed of around 10 kmph, a major disaster was avoided.
Guard rails are additional safety rails installed parallel to the main tracks. Their purpose is to prevent severe derailments by keeping slipped wheels confined within a controlled space if they move off the main rail.
“The preliminary inquiry report into the Vande Bharat Express derailment has been received. It states that the accident occurred due to an error by the engineering department. The final report is still awaited,” said Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, Mumbai.