Train crash in Spain, 78 dead and 130 injured

This is pretty big news, and I've checked over the Forums but couldn't find any posts about it, so here we go: (p.s., your search function sucks GS) 

 

Seven days of mourning have been declared in the northern Spanish region of Galicia after 78 people died in a train crash on Wednesday.

Four people died in hospital, the rest at the site of the accident, a spokeswoman for Galicia's supreme court said on Thursday morning. She added the numbers were still provisional. Judges in Spain are responsible for recording deaths.

The crash occurred as the train approached the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela at 8.40pm. A further 131 people were reported injured in the accident, the worst in Spain for 40 years. Reports said about 20 were very seriously injured.

The death toll might rise further, a spokeswoman for the office of the central government in Galicia warned. One Briton was among the injured, the Foreign Office confirmed. The US State Department said five Americans were hurt.

Rescue workers battled to free passengers trapped inside the carriages, several of which had overturned. Some caught fire. Bodies covered in blankets lay next to the overturned carriages as smoke billowed from the wreckage. Firemen clambered over the twisted metal trying to get survivors out of the windows.

"The scene is shocking, it's Dante-esque," the head of the Galicia region, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said in a radio interview.

Guardian

Both drivers of the train were unhurt in the crash. One of them was reportedly seen wandering dazed among the dead saying: "I've derailed, what am I going to do, what am I going to do?" It is still not clear whether the apparent excessive speed was the result of human error or a technical fault.Guardian

Apparently the train was doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. 

Guardian article

Track-side security camera footage

Sad.:(.

Jesus Christ...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the deceased's friends and families.

I have seen the video of it. The problem wasnt the driver of the Train. Something went wrong with the electricity line. It blikned out for a seconds before the Train chrashed.

If anyone has the video go see it. To judge it for yourself.

Teh cresh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o32nxuHshv4

Very sad news. My thoughts go out to the families.

I have seen the video of it. The problem wasnt the driver of the Train. Something went wrong with the electricity line. It blikned out for a seconds before the Train chrashed.

 

If anyone has the video go see it. To judge it for yourself.

CommandoAgent

Teh cresh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o32nxuHshv4

Masculus

Teh cresh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o32nxuHshv4

Masculus

Crazy ass stuff. My thoughts for them and their families.

Sucks to be them.xdude85

Well, judging by the video, at least they died quickly.

What a mess. From what I read it sounds like it was operator error. 

What a mess. From what I read it sounds like it was operator error. 

Wasdie

so sad :(

Tragic. The video is horrifying too. 

Well, judging by the video, at least they died quickly.

sune_Gem

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

What a mess. From what I read it sounds like it was operator error. 

lightleggy

Probably because these accidents are extremely rare and the operators are generally extremely responsible so it's never an issue. Don't need to be fail safes in place everywhere. More fail safes and systems means more maintenance and more things that could go wrong thus delaying the operation of the train. It's just easier to have well trained operators.

Edit: I was incorrect. Apparently these systems exist but this time they failed.

I saw it in the news, very sad. Must be horrible for the family members of those who died.

God is punishing them for not speaking English.Fightingfan

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]God is punishing them for not speaking English.deeliman

[QUOTE="lightleggy"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

What a mess. From what I read it sounds like it was operator error. 

Wasdie

Probably because these accidents are extremely rare and the operators are generally extremely responsible so it's never an issue. Don't need to be fail safes in place everywhere. More fail safes and systems means more maintenance and more things that could go wrong thus delaying the operation of the train. It's just easier to have well trained operators.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

[QUOTE="lightleggy"] How is it possible that these things don't have emergency systems to restrict the speed?chaplainDMK

Probably because these accidents are extremely rare and the operators are generally extremely responsible so it's never an issue. Don't need to be fail safes in place everywhere. More fail safes and systems means more maintenance and more things that could go wrong thus delaying the operation of the train. It's just easier to have well trained operators.

That makes sense. I was just guessing. Those kind of systems could cause a lot of issues that could cause delays. 

Apparently I shouldn't assume.

[QUOTE="chaplainDMK"][QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Probably because these accidents are extremely rare and the operators are generally extremely responsible so it's never an issue. Don't need to be fail safes in place everywhere. More fail safes and systems means more maintenance and more things that could go wrong thus delaying the operation of the train. It's just easier to have well trained operators.

Wasdie

That makes sense. I was just guessing. Those kind of systems could cause a lot of issues that could cause delays. 

Apparently I shouldn't assume.

Apparently the train was doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. 

chaplainDMK

Wait, why on earth was it going so fast? That's over twice the limit. Is this normal for trains?

[QUOTE="chaplainDMK"]

Apparently the train was doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. 

sune_Gem

Wait, why on earth was it going so fast? That's over twice the limit. Is this normal for trains?

The main issue is that these trains have on-board systems that should stop the train if it's going too fast or otherwise not obeying the signalization, which obviously didn't work here.

It's been all over CNN today.  Very sad.  At least 80 people killed.  There's actually video of it derailing.

I have seen the video of it. The problem wasnt the driver of the Train. Something went wrong with the electricity line. It blikned out for a seconds before the Train chrashed.

 

If anyone has the video go see it. To judge it for yourself.

CommandoAgent

sad news.. i dont like getting into vehicles when im not the driver and cant control it myself

turned on CNN for a bit and didn't see this being covered at all, wtf. 

turned on CNN for a bit and didn't see this being covered at all, wtf. 

nomsayin

The royal baby is obviously more important.

but is in fact borderline psychological torture.

chaplainDMK

You don't want to see the opposite side of the spectrum, trust me.

Well that sucks.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]God is punishing them for not speaking English.deeliman

Saw the video, looks horrific.

I've always wanted to go on a train. Not so much now. BossPerson

It's still much statistically safer than a car though.  

Saw the video, looks horrific.

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]I've always wanted to go on a train. Not so much now. Alpha_S_

It's still much statistically safer than a car though.  

[QUOTE="Alpha_S_"]

Saw the video, looks horrific.

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]I've always wanted to go on a train. Not so much now. lightleggy

It's still much statistically safer than a car though.  

[QUOTE="sune_Gem"]

[QUOTE="chaplainDMK"]

Apparently the train was doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. 

chaplainDMK

Wait, why on earth was it going so fast? That's over twice the limit. Is this normal for trains?

The main issue is that these trains have on-board systems that should stop the train if it's going too fast or otherwise not obeying the signalization, which obviously didn't work here.

I guess this is a lesson for all other conductors. Your life is more valuable than your job.

What an unfortunate way to die.

The hospitals are going to be busy.

[QUOTE="sune_Gem"]

[QUOTE="chaplainDMK"]

Apparently the train was doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. 

chaplainDMK

Wait, why on earth was it going so fast? That's over twice the limit. Is this normal for trains?

The main issue is that these trains have on-board systems that should stop the train if it's going too fast or otherwise not obeying the signalization, which obviously didn't work here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/francisco-jose-garzon-amo_n_3658399.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D349780

Habit of going way over the speed limit, bragging about it on Facebook? Make the fvcker suffer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/francisco-jose-garzon-amo_n_3658399.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D349780

Habit of going way over the speed limit, bragging about it on Facebook? Make the fvcker suffer.

CJL13

driver was doing 190km/h in a 80km/h zone... it baffles me how computers haven't taken over the job of conductorlamprey263