Investigation into fatal Glacier Express crash
Monday July 26, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

The cause of the crash remains uncertain and one theory, that a sudden drop in temperature played a part, has been ruled out by crash investigators.

The accident happened on Friday between Fiesch and Lax in the Valley of Conches in the Valais canton.

The 3 rear carriages came off the track and one overturned.

It's thought the dead woman, a 64-year old Japanese tourist from Osaka, and the majority of the injured were in this carriage.

40 people were injured and needed hospital treatment. They included 28 Japanese, four Spaniards, two Austrians, one Indian and five Swiss people.

Over 200 people were on the train at the time.

We reported on the crash here on PlanetSKI; the early news of the accident and the first theories as to what may have happened.

Swiss rail; re-known for safety and punctualityAt first it was thought a sudden change in temperature may have buckled a rail causing the carriages to de-rail, but investigators have discounted that theory.

The Valais police says the injured are being treated at hospitals in Sion, Martigny, Visp, Sierre and Monthey.

One person has been taken to hospital in Lausanne, another to Geneva and one person is being treated in the capital, Berne.

The train was full of tourists.

No British people were injured in the crash.

The Swiss authorities have been in contact with all the various embassies and consulates of the injured.

A massive rescue operation swung into action to help the injured.

7 helicopters were used to ferry people to the hospitals and heavy lifting gear was used to free trapped and injured passengers.

The accident has shocked the country as it prides itself on the efficiency of its rail system and its safety record.

A number of PlanetSKI readers in Switzerland have e-mailed us their thoughts.

Guy Ordway works as instructor for Performance ski school in Verbier and lives in the ski resort year-round:

"It's really shocking to read about the crash, especially as the Swiss rail system is famous for it's efficiency. But whilst it's tragic and is getting a lot of column inches here in Verbier, the accident rate on Swiss trains is very low - impressively so when you consider the environments and conditions that the trains take you through - so it's very much an isolated incident. So really it's big news here simply because these the Swiss simply don't expect these things to happen here."

Another PlanetSKI reporter, Freddie, lives in The Alps and is currently in Switzerland:

"The Swiss and English people living in Switzerland are shocked to hear the awful news of the crash between St Moritz and Zermatt.  Switzerland is so well known for it's efficiency and safety on the rails.  It is something that you don't expect to happen in Switzerland.  As soon as I heard the news I was in doubt as to it's origin.  Could it be that this could happen on the Swiss rails?  It has been very, very hot recently and suddenly the temperature has plummeted with snow on the mountain tops and this must be a reason for the rail system to suddenly fail?  It is a huge tragedy and a freak of nature surely? I sincerely hope the casualties are kept to a minimum and my thoughts are with the families that have lost someone in this horrendous accident and those that are recovering from their injuries".

Tourist attractionThe Glacier Express is one of the most famous rail journey's in Europe as it winds its way between the ski resorts of Zermatt and St Moritz.

At an average speed of 30 km/hour it is hardly an express though!

It crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels and passes through some of the most majestic mountain scenery on its 7 and a half hour journey.

250,000 people take the train each winter and a service runs every day.

The carriages have now been taken to a special warehouse for examination and the railway line has been pronounced safe and re-opened.

It is the worst rail accident in the country since 2006 when 3 railway workers were killed.

Services are back to normal but a full investigation will take some time.

It may take even longer to restore the reputation of Swiss Rail.

The country is in shock.

Stunning views from mountain trains

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