The collision between a freight and passenger train in Greece stoked a blaze with people trapped inside overturned cars.
More than 110 people have been injured and killed following a head-on collision between two trains in northeastern Greece. Some 350 passengers were on board one of the trains at the time of the crash, with rescuers pulling many survivors from the wreckage.
The crash took place shortly after midnight on Wednesday near Tempe, located close to Greece’s eastern coast and some 144 miles (233 kilometers) north of the capital city of Athens.
A representative of the Greek fire service, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, confirmed 32 fatalities, in addition to some 85 wounded. At least 25 of those injured are said to be in “serious condition” after the accident, according to state-run broadcaster ERT News, which noted that several train cars were derailed in the collision.
“It was a very powerful collision. This is a terrible night… It’s hard to describe the scene,” Costas Agorastos, the regional governor of Greece’s Thessaly region, told state media, adding that around 250 survivors had been evacuated to Thessaloniki on buses.
At least 15 people are said to have died, dozens left injured after 2 trains collided
Witnesses in the aftermath of the crash near Tempe in Greece 🇬🇷 shortly after midnight on Wednesday described an intense fire on one of the carriages, with a large emergency response underway https://t.co/awJtLviS88 pic.twitter.com/i2YgdRznjz
— Saad Abedine (@SaadAbedine) March 1, 2023
Passengers reached by local media described the moment of the crash, saying they felt a “strong jolt” before the train lost power, forcing panicked travelers to smash windows in order to flee overturned railcars.
📹 | Passenger train with around 400 passengers collides with cargo train in #Greece's Larissa.pic.twitter.com/IGXDhnpsZT
— EHA News (@eha_news) March 1, 2023
Thirty ambulances have reportedly rushed to the scene to treat the wounded, with multiple hospitals in nearby Larissa now operating on an “emergency basis,” local reports added. Fire crews also responded to fight a blaze that erupted on some cars, while the police and military have also mobilized rescue teams.
It remains unclear what caused the collision, and officials have yet to discuss any investigation into the deadly incident.
What is coming to NZ
With the removal of automatic running signals
Instituted as a result of the 1899 Rakaia crash
Replaced by TWC (Track Warrant Control)
Which took railways in NZ back over 100 years
That sounds interesting. Can you please explain for the layman. Thank you.
Gidday
Basically the automatic running signals which eventuated as a consequence of the Rakaia crash which advise the Driver of the state of condition of occupation of the track ahead through electrical track circuits
Were removed under TWC in some areas
In addition broken or misplaced rails points wrongly set or other obstructions affecting operations
Which necessitated a reduction in speed to 10km/h through the block section on what was a Mis 59 authority to pass departure signals at STOP
Automatic running signals provided what was called “Fail-Safe”
That comes into play as aback up when the human element breaks down
TWC was once described as cheap and nasty it will not work
Came across these YouTube videos which are excellent
Channel the Imagination Station
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjJpyaF5B-cj42aiyMVEylqd9fRQOTT-u
Train Collision in Greece: Electronic Systems ‘Not Working for Years’
https://greekreporter.com/2023/03/01/train-collision-greece-electronic-systems-not-working/