Track problems seen before crash

INSPECTORS noted structural problems at the site of a fatal derailment several months before the accident occurred, but no repairs were made, according to a newspaper report.

Seven people died and dozens were injured on July 12 when a Teoz service between Paris and Limoges derailed at high speed and ploughed into the station at Brétigny-sur-Orge in the Essonne.

Le Figaro newspaper has seen track maintenance reports which refer to cracks in the rails and a missing bolt on the section of the track where the crash took place.

A report dated April 4, notes cracks in the tracks where a fishplate joint eventually came loose, causing the crash. The newspaper added that inspectors had marked the problem as level 2, needing repairs within three months.

A separate report noted that the fishplate joint had been missing a bolt since at least February 21.

Rail workers told the paper that had such repairs taken place the accident would not have happened.

“The rail workers we have spoken to are clear: this bolt, and its exact placement (in the middle), play a vital role,” said the paper.

“It appears from these inspection reports that, since February, the fishplate joint was not tightened and was missing a bolt. In the reports from April, the problem was still there,” said Le Figaro.

“Track maintenance is now under fire from critics. Even if the inspections were carried out on the ground, they were not followed up effectively,” said the paper.

Photo: wiki/Poudou99