'Speeding and distraction' caused Santiago rail crash, say investigators
Thursday, June 5, 2014 @ 9:19 AM
AN INVESTIGATION commission has concluded that the Santiago rail tragedy which killed 79 passengers was caused by excess speed and the driver's 'lack of concentration'.
The report, released by the ministry of public works and infrastructure, said that even if the modern European Train System braking had been in place on the track, it would not have stopped the crash.
According to the commission, the train was travelling at 179 kilometres per hour when it hit the notorious A Grandeira bend in the town of Angrois, just south of Santiago de Compostela in the north-western region of Galicia.
The speed limit was 80 kilometres per hour.
In the final conclusions, the report claimed the driver's attention was elsewhere as he answered a call on his mobile from the control station and did not brake far enough ahead of the bend.
The commission says the call was 'excessive and repeated', lasting for over 100 seconds.
During this time, the train travelled just over five-and-a-half kilometres, and there was no intervention from the driver.
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