Who is responsible for the train derailment in Nghe An?

Regarding the railway accident between a truck and a freight train in Dien Chau district on the morning of September 25th, according to a report from the Vietnam Railway Corporation, the cause of the accident was determined to be the fault of the truck driver for failing to observe carefully when driving across an unauthorized level crossing while the train was approaching.

The accident caused four freight train carriages to derail, with one carriage blocking National Highway 1A. Photo: Viet Hung

According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the unauthorized level crossing (wider than 3m) is located next to National Highway 1A, with unobstructed views on both sides and a smooth surface. The railway authorities had placed warning signs and narrowing posts at this unauthorized crossing and handed it over to the local authorities for management (but these were removed by local residents); the local authorities have also placed signs restricting vehicle access. The railway authorities handed over the documentation for this unauthorized level crossing to the Traffic Safety Committee of Nghe An province on August 27, 2019.

Identified as a potential railway accident site, the railway authorities requested the Nghe An Provincial Traffic Safety Committee to direct local personnel to monitor the location. On August 28, 2019, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee issued document No. 218/ATGT directing local authorities to station personnel at this location 24 hours a day.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa, personally went to the scene to direct the khắc phục of the accident. Photo: Viet Hung

Previously, the Vietnam Railway Authority had also issued document No. 1899/TB-CĐSVN dated September 23, 2016, requesting the local authorities to organize surveillance at the aforementioned location. However, to date, the local authorities have not yet implemented this.

Previously, at 7:35 AM on September 25, 2019, freight train AH22, pulled by locomotive 722, collided with a 2.5-ton light truck with license plate 37C-24331 at Km 267+500 (an unauthorized crossing) in the Yen Ly – Cau Giat section of the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City railway line (in Dien Truong commune, Dien Chau district).

As a result, the car was thrown off the tracks and stuck in the road-railway guardrail; 4 carriages derailed and overturned into the field next to the road; one carriage also tilted on the railway tracks. One carriage struck a motorcyclist traveling on the road.

The accident occurred at an unauthorized access point. Photo: Viet Hung

The accident resulted in injuries to the car driver, Ho Xuan Son (born in 1982, residing in Block 4, Cau Giat town, Quynh Luu district). Property damage included one car, four train carriages, 50 meters of railway track and guardrails, and one motorbike.

The accident caused one-way traffic on National Highway 1A to be paralyzed. Authorities had to work very hard to regulate traffic.

Pham Bang