ANKARA, Turkey — A crash involving a Turkish high speed train has killed at least nine and injured 47, the BBC reports.
The accident, at about 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, occurred when the high speed train collided with the locomotive of another train at the Marsandiz station, about five miles from Ankara’s main station, Ankara governor Vasip Sahin told a news conference. The train then hit and demolished a pedestrian bridge.
Three members of the train crew were among those killed. A Turkish news agency reported 206 passengers were on board.
The high speed train was a Siemens Velaro trainset, one of six eight-car trains delivered to Turkey’s national railway, TCDD, following an order in May 2013. The train is capable of speeds up to 186 mph.
It must be frustrating for Siemens to see so much of their equipment on it’s side after a crash!
The BBC article states that there was an inspection train on the track. Do we have a dispatcher mixup here (it does happen) but even if so, what kind of signalling if any was protecting this line? Regardless, and regardless of what anyone might think of PTC, an (unbiased) assessment of whether PTC would have prevented such an accident would be interesting. Such an analysis would be useful in determining the worth of PTC on North American railroads.
My condolences to the families of the victims of this accident. And I hope the injured enjoy a speedy and full recovery.
The above comments are general in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Find your own damn lawyer.