Rail staff hit back at train crash accusation
By Zha Minjie |
August 31, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
STAFF at a Wenzhou railway station have hit back at an accusation that they failed to report or deal with a false signal problem that led to a fatal train crash in late July.
In an open letter posted on www.caijing.com.cn, the rail staff at the Wenzhou South Station said the accusation was untrue and unfair.
Huang Yi, a spokesman for China's State Administration of Work Safety, said after the accident that the staff on duty had failed to prevent it. In the letter, the staff said that they felt "depressed and even fear" on hearing what Huang said.
The letter also revealed that two staffers on duty on July 23, the day of the accident, were still in police custody.
The Wenzhou train crash killed 40 people and injured nearly 200 others, making it one of most deadly rail accidents in China.
The letter said: "Our rail staff on duty did find a problem with the centralized traffic control (CTC) system and reported to the dispatch department. The workers were trying to solve the problem (when the accident happened)."
It added: "We feel deep sorrow about the loss of lives in the accident and we also want to find out the truth by cooperating with the investigation team."
The staff said they were "afraid of being on duty and handling breakdowns and we have lost confidence in rail signal work now."
A conclusion to the investigation into the accident is expected by mid-September.
Preliminary investigations discovered design flaws in signaling equipment as well as a poor emergency response and safety management loopholes, said An Lusheng, Shanghai Railway Bureau director.
In an open letter posted on www.caijing.com.cn, the rail staff at the Wenzhou South Station said the accusation was untrue and unfair.
Huang Yi, a spokesman for China's State Administration of Work Safety, said after the accident that the staff on duty had failed to prevent it. In the letter, the staff said that they felt "depressed and even fear" on hearing what Huang said.
The letter also revealed that two staffers on duty on July 23, the day of the accident, were still in police custody.
The Wenzhou train crash killed 40 people and injured nearly 200 others, making it one of most deadly rail accidents in China.
The letter said: "Our rail staff on duty did find a problem with the centralized traffic control (CTC) system and reported to the dispatch department. The workers were trying to solve the problem (when the accident happened)."
It added: "We feel deep sorrow about the loss of lives in the accident and we also want to find out the truth by cooperating with the investigation team."
The staff said they were "afraid of being on duty and handling breakdowns and we have lost confidence in rail signal work now."
A conclusion to the investigation into the accident is expected by mid-September.
Preliminary investigations discovered design flaws in signaling equipment as well as a poor emergency response and safety management loopholes, said An Lusheng, Shanghai Railway Bureau director.
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