Human error causes
Brazil's deadly train
collision
Human error is blamed
for a major collision
between two trains that
killed eight people and
injured 101, Brazil's
railway managing company
said Monday.
On Aug. 30, a commuter
train carrying about 700
passengers smashed at
high speed into the rear
end of an empty train
which was under
maintenance near Austin
station, in the
municipality of Nova
Iguacu.
Investigation showed the
commuter train was
traveling at 76 km per
hour, exceeding the
speed limit of 60 kph,
before the tragedy
happened, according to
Supervia, the company
that operates Rio's
metropolitan railway
system.
Having received no
notice from the dispatch
center, the driver had
no idea there was a
train under maintenance
ahead.
Moreover, the driver,
who did not slow down in
time after seeing the
yellow signal light,
failed to stop at the
red signal and finally
slammed into the train
ahead with a speed of 36
kph.
The railway company,
however, denied that the
driver and dispatcher
involved lacked
experience since they
had worked for 27 and 12
years respectively.
Neither were they
overworked nor under big
psychological pressure
when the accident
occurred, the company
added.
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