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Human error in Swiss rail crash
Saturday July 31, 2010 - Email this article to a friend
Initial reports say the driver of the Glacier Express was going too fast in last week's accident. 1 person died and 42 others were injured as 3 carriages came of the rails. 8 people are still in hospital.
Federal investigators say the driver was going at 55km/hr on a section of rail between Lax and Fiesch in the Valais canton when he should have been travelling at 35 km/h.
It is thought he sped up too quickly after a bend so the last 3 carriages were going 20km/h over the maximium speed limit on the bend as the rest of the train accelerated.
The driver had 8 years experience and had never previously been involved in an accident.
The findings have been announced by the company that runs the service between Zermatt and St Moritiz, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.
The first theory of the crash was that a sudden drop in temperature had affected the line, but that was quickly ruled out.
There had also been some work done on the line a few days before the crash and it was at first thought this may have contributed.
MGB says it is deeply saddened by the accident that is the first serious incident in the 80 year history of the route.
It made the announcement at a news conference in Brig.
The driver involved is said to be in a state of shock and it is unclear what will happen to him.
Excellent safety recordWe reported on the accident here on PlanetSKI and also into the immediate investigation that was started.
Swiss rail is known for its punctuality and efficiency, rather than safety issues.
Most of the injured were tourists and the dead woman and 28 of the injured were from Japan.
The remaining injured came from Spain, Austria, India and Switzerland.
No British people were hurt.
The story received huge attention both in Switzerland and in the Japanese media.
Most of the injured were elderly Japanese people on a tour of the country and there are some real concerns that the Japanese tourist industry in Switzerland will be hit.
It is an important market as they take in other parts of the Alps including Wengen and the Eiger on their tours.
"We deeply regrets the tragedy and offer our sincere apologies to everybody concerned," said a spokesman for the Valais Canton Government.
"We wish enough strength and courage to help the people involved through this sad period."
The Glacier Express rail service re-opened just 2 days after the accident and that brought some criticism that it was too soon.
Of the remaining injured people 2, who were in a critical condition, are now out of intensive care.
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