The timely application of emergency brakes and an alert issued by a loco pilot prevented a major train accident near Villupuram in Southern Railway on Sunday.

According to sources, a tractor hauling a trailer entered the railway track at an unmanned level crossing between Parikkal and Tiruvennnainallur Road railway stations around 4 p.m. on Sunday. While the tractor went past the track, the trailer got stuck.

Some local residents who tried to move the trailer dispersed once they heard a train approaching. The loco pilot of Train No 16352 Nagercoil-Mumbai Express saw the trailer on track, and applied emergency brakes. However, the train collided with the trailer, and pushed it ahead for some distance.

The trailer got stuck to the cattle guard of the locomotive, and infringed onto the adjacent track where Train No 12635 Chennai-Madurai Vaigai Superfast Express was fast approaching, the sources said.

The loco pilot of the Nagercoil-Mumbai Express immediately sent his assistant to plant detonators on the track and erect a red flag ahead of the obstruction, in accordance with safety guidelines. He also alerted the Station Master of Tiruvennainallur Road to stop the Vaigai Express.

Acting on the information, the Station Master stopped the Vaigai Express, barely 4-5 km ahead of the accident spot. The train was detained for about 30 minutes.

A special team was called in to remove the trailer, and restore normalcy. The locomotive of the Nagercoil-Mumbai Express suffered a minor damage, and the train was halted for an hour, the sources added.

Railway officials said all unmanned level crossings in Southern Railway were closed, and road under bridges or limited use subways were constructed for the public. In Sunday’s accident, the tractor driver forced his way onto the track despite the approach road being closed.

The sources further said that the Nagerocil-Mumbai Express was running at 110 kmph when the emergency brakes were applied, and it collided with the trailer at a speed of about 40-45 kmph. Had the Vaigai Express approached the accident site, the obstruction on track would not have been visible as it was a curve.

A major accident involving at least two express trains had been averted due to the alertness of the loco pilot, a senior railway official said.