Milavče train crash

On 4 August 2021, two passenger trains collided at Milavče in the Czech Republic. Three people were killed and 67 were injured.

Milavče train crash
A ČD Class 844 RegioShark diesel multiple unit, similar to that involved in the accident
The Class 223 diesel locomotive 223-066 involved in the accident
Milavče train crash is located in Czech Republic
Milavče train crash
Milavče, Czech Republic
Details
Date4 August 2021 (2021-08-04)
08:06 CEST (06:06 UTC)
LocationMilavče
Coordinates49°27′55″N 12°59′6″E
CountryCzech Republic
Operator
Service
Incident typeHead-on collision
Statistics
Trains2
Deaths3
Injured67
Missing1
DamageIn excess of Kč 100,000,000

Background

Train collisions in the Czech Republic are relatively frequent by European standards because of outdated safety systems.[1] After a deadly collision in 2020, the Czech government announced a modernization programme. As of 2021 the European Train Control System (ETCS) is installed on only 500 km (310 mi) of rail; by 2025 this is planned to be expanded to all main lines.[1]

Accident

Two passenger trains collided head-on at Milavče, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic at 08:06 local time (06:06 UTC).[2][3] One of the trains was a České dráhy local service[4] from Plzeň to Domažlice,[5] with ČD Class 844 RegioShark diesel multiple unit 844 006.[3][6] The other was an international service from Munich, Germany to Prague, Czech Republic,[7][8] operated by České dráhy in the Czech Republic and by Die Länderbahn in Germany.[9] The train was hauled by Class 223 diesel locomotive 223 066.[3]

Three people were killed,[10] and 67 were injured, five seriously.[2][3] Those killed were both drivers and a female passenger, all Czech citizens.[10] One person was reported missing.[8]

Rescuers from Germany assisted their Czech colleagues. Four helicopters transported the injured to hospitals in Plzeň.[8] Ten less severely injured patients were transported to hospitals in Germany.[5] Damages were estimated as in excess of Kč 100,000,000 (about 3.9 million Euro or 4.6 million US$).[3]

Investigations

The Rail Safety Inspection Office (RSIO Czech: Drážní inspekce) opened an investigation into the accident.[10] The investigation is expected to take several months. A criminal investigation was also opened as negligence was suspected to be one of the causes of the accident. České dráhy likewise opened an investigation into the accident.[3]

Czech transport minister Karel Havlíček said that the international train had passed a stop signal (SPAD).[8] Inspector General of the RSIO Jan Kučera said that it was not known whether the SPAD was a result of a technical defect with the train or driver error.[3]

References
  1. dpa. "Zug aus München in Tschechien verunglückt: Drei Tote" [Train from Munich crashed in the Czech Republic: three dead]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 5 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Sharman, Jon. "Three dead after double train crash in Czech Republic". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  3. "Na Chodsku se srazil rychlík z Bavorska a RegioShark, tři lidé zemřeli" [An express train from Bavaria and RegioShark collided in Chodsko, three people died] (in Czech). Česká Televisie 24. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. "Passenger trains collide in Czech Republic, killing 2". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. Skacel, Jiri. "Munich-Prague train collides with Czech commuter service, three dead". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. Pásztor, Dávid (4 August 2021). "Minuta po minutě: Jak došlo k tragické srážce vlaků na Domažlicku" [Minute by minute: How did the tragic collision of trains in Domažlice] (in Czech). Seznam Zprávy. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  7. "Three dead, dozens injured after passenger trains collide in the Czech Republic". Channel 9 News. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. "Two dead, more than 40 injured in Czech train crash". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. "Expresszug aus München kollidiert mit Regionalbahn nahe Bayerns Grenze – Weiterer Toter gemeldet" [Express train from Munich collides with regional train near Bavaria's border - another dead reported] (in German). Münchner Merkur. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  10. "Three dead in train crash near Czech-German border". BBC News Online. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

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