The investigation into the serious train accident near Sofia continues. Two people lost their lives and six were injured after two freight trains collided head-on near Lokorsko. The versions that investigators are working on are that one of the drivers entered the station on a red light or a wrong command from the dispatchers. According to unofficial data, it was a case of entering a red traffic light, reports bTV.
Several police teams guarded the scene of the collision throughout the night. Today, the re-examination of the employees of BDZ, NRIC, the police and the fire department began.
According to expert Mihail Rangelov, the incident could have been prevented.
„There are several security systems that did not work. The last system is for the dispatcher to turn off the voltage in the contact network and stop the trains, but in this case it happened very quickly and there was no time to react“, he pointed out.
“Either the dispatcher gave permission, or the locomotive brigade took this action, but in any case it is a gross violation of the regulations“, Rangelov is categorical.
“This section has one peculiarity that it is under central dispatch control. That is, it is not controlled by the neighboring stations, but directly by the dispatchers of “Maria Luiza“. There are still several versions that are being discussed“, he added.
With the presence of the so-called ERTMS system, such an incident would be impossible. It consists of two parts - sensors on the railway lines and in the locomotives. So in the event of such an error, it automatically turns off the machines.
"It already exists throughout Europe, we are just introducing it here. They already have a second level. We are talking about the first, which I don't see how it will happen in the coming years“, said expert Mikhail Rangelov.
This case is not isolated.
„Last year there were at least 20 such cases. It is about total underfunding of the system, which leads to low salaries and demotivation of staff. Changing one or another boss does not solve the problem. The politicians who have been neglecting railway transport for 20 years are to blame for these incidents“, said the expert.
The scattered cargo is also safe.
„Sometimes it occurs when burning scrap radiation. There is none. The air is measured. There is no pollution. The population can be calm in both regions. There is no danger“, reassured the mayor of the “Kremikovtsi“ district Lilia Donkova.
The investigation continues.