Fatal Train Collision in Greece

One could ask where was track occupancy detection.

One could ask where was automatic block detection.

One could ask why trains were going this fast if there was none of the above. In the civilized world, when signals fail, trains are not allowed to go faster than they can stop based on line of sight.

Who is this "stationmaster"? In the US, routing selection such as this is done by a dispatcher, who has nothing to do with a "station".

The question isn't who was abysmally incompetent. The question is was there anyone who wasn't.


spsalso

spsalso said:

trains are not allowed to go faster than they can stop based on line of sight.

Click to expand...

Yes but if two trains are going that speed they're going to meet exactly in the middle.

Actually, "restricted speed" is such that the train can be stopped in half the distance to the obstruction, so two that are approaching each other at restricted speed would each take half the total distance.

I’ll see your silver lining and raise you two black clouds. - Protection Operations

So, it appears that same "station master" not only screwed up the switching, but also told one of the trains to ignore the warning light indicating that the track ahead was occupied.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

This is, sadly, a very interesting story.

In the US, when an engineer is told to pass a red, he is supposed to do it at restricted speed (see earlier definition by davidbeach).

That's not "ignoring" the red signal. That's getting permission to pass it at all. With a speed restriction.

I thought I heard that the Greek signals weren't working. If so, where'd that red signal come from?


spsalso

The latest news from Greece:

Stationmaster Charged In Greece Train Crash That Killed 57

A man accused of causing Greece’s deadliest train disaster has been charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial.


John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

Why were the signals not working properly?
Who was supposed to keep them working?
Why were operating rules undoubtedly ignored by operating personnel?
Why did the union not protect their workers?


spsalso