YOKOHAMA, Japan — A warning light alerted the driver of a Japanese commuter train that there was an obstacle in the train’s path, but he was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting a produce truck at a grade crossing.
The driver of the truck was killed, a rare fatal rail accident for Japan. [See “Japan commuter train crash kills one, injures more than 30,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 5, 2019.]
Japan Times reports that an obstacle detection device sets off signals 10, 130, and 340 meters from the crossing, with the most distant signal visible 600 meters (a little more than 650 yards) from the crossing. Trains normally travel at 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) at the site of the accident, and would need about 600 meters to stop; the train’s driver said he hit the emergency brake as soon as he saw the signal but was unable to stop in time.
The newspaper also reported that the truck driver appeared to have been on an unfamiliar route and, according to security videos, struggled to make a sharp turn at the crossing, eventually becoming trapped on the tracks as crossing gates closed.
Rail operator Keikyu Corp. hopes to have service restored on the route by Saturday morning. It had initially hoped to have the route back in service in time for the Friday evening commute, but removable of the three cars that derailed in the crash has taken longer than expected.
Seems clearly an auto-correct-generated typo- tyranny of the bots.
removable of the three cars?