Ramses Station rail disaster explained

Ramses Station rail disaster
Pushpin Map:Egypt
Date:27 February 2019
Time:around 08:00 am (CAT)
Location:Ramses Square, Cairo
Country:Egypt
Line:Alexandria-Cairo line
Operator:Egyptian National Railways
Type:Derailment and engine failure
Trains:1
Deaths:25
Injuries:50

The Ramses Station rail disaster occurred on 27 February 2019 in Ramses Station of Cairo, Egypt.[1] Twenty-five people were killed and forty injured.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Crash

In the early morning of 27 February 2019, in Cairo's main train station, Ramses Station, a locomotive hit the buffers at the end of the track at platform 6 at high speed,[7] causing an explosion that sparked a major blaze and fireball that blackened the walls of the station. The locomotive could later be seen inside, leaning to one side next to a platform.[1] One eyewitness said:

It was later confirmed that the driver was not inside the locomotive during the accident. According to Egypt's Prosecutor General, Nabil Sadek, one train driver had left his train to fight with another train driver; thereafter, the unmanned train struck the barrier.[8]

Transport Minister Hisham Arafat resigned after the incident.

An Egyptian member of parliament publicly called for the employees that were responsible for the accident to face the death penalty.[9] It was revealed that the train's driver had left the brakes off.[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Deadly fire after train crashes at Cairo's main station . . 27 February 2019 . 27 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Deadly fire at Cairo's main rail station . . 27 February 2019 . 27 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Egypt: Dozens killed in crash and fire at Cairo train station . . 27 February 2019 . 27 February 2019.
  4. News: Samaan . Magdy . 25 Dead after train explodes inside station . The Times . 72782 . 28 February 2019 . 34. 0140-0460.
  5. Web site: Egypt's prime minister to deliver statement before parliament on deadly Cairo train crash: Parliament speaker - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online. english.ahram.org.eg. 2019-03-04.
  6. News: MEM News . Egypt: 25 killed, dozens injured in deadly train station fire . 5 March 2019 . Middle East Monitor . February 27, 2019.
  7. Web site: Locomotive that caused Ramses station fire had no driver: official . . 27 February 2019 . 27 February 2019.
  8. News: . Fight between conductors caused train crash that killed at least 25 in Cairo. The Times of Israel. February 27, 2019. Associated Press. February 27, 2019.
  9. News: MEM News . Egypt MP calls for execution of negligent employees after Ramses station fire . 5 March 2019 . Middle East Monitor . March 4, 2019.
  10. News: Cairo Train Driver Left Brakes Off. February 28, 2019. BBC News.