Ústí nad Labem derailment explained

Ústí nad Labem derailment
Coordinates:50.6431°N 14.0442°W
Date:28 June 2010
Time:16:47 CEST (14:47 UTC)
Location:Ústí nad Labem
Country:Czech Republic
Line:Prague – Ústí nad Labem
Operator:České dráhy
Type:Derailment
Cause:Excessive speed
Trains:1
Deaths:1
Injuries:11
Damage:CZK 65,000,000 (2010 est.)CZK 70.9 million (€2.8 million) (final cost)

The Ústí nad Labem derailment occurred on 28 June 2010 when a CityElefant train derailed at Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic. The driver was killed and 11 passengers were injured.

Train

The train involved was a ČD Class 471 CityElefant double deck electric multiple unit[1] that had been manufactured in 2001.[2]

Derailment

At 16:47 CEST, the train was derailed on approach to its final scheduled stop, Ústí nad Labem hlavní nádraží, in the southern suburb of Vaňov. It was almost at the end of its journey from Prague when the accident happened. The leading carriage smashed into a concrete wall after being derailed. The driver was killed and 11 passengers were injured, including two with serious injuries. The train's cab car was irreparably destroyed, while the other two cars survived with only minor structural defects. The line, which forms part of an international railway corridor linking Prague and Berlin, was closed following the accident, although one track was later reopened to traffic but requiring the use of diesel locomotives as the overhead wiring had been damaged.[2]

Cause

Although investigations are still underway, it has been already reported that at the time of the crash, the train was travelling at 108km/h while the speed limit at that location was 50km/h. The most probable cause of the disaster was either a fault of the brakes or the driver's inattention.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Při nehodě vlaku v Ústí jeden mrtvý a 11 zraněných . České Noviny . Czech . 28 June 2010 . 29 June 2010.
  2. Web site: Strojvedoucí jel ve Vaňově 108 místo 50 km/h. Inspektoři prověřují brzdy . Idnes . Czech . 29 June 2010.