Car trapped between railway barriers as train passes in Romania

A near-disaster unfolded at a railway crossing in Petricani, Romania, when a car became trapped between the barriers just as a train approached. The driver, identified as journalist Cosmin Stan, described a chaotic scene where barriers lowered again immediately after opening, trapping his vehicle on the tracks. He recounted calling emergency services while a train passed, narrowly avoiding a collision because it was on the adjacent track.

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Azi, la bariera de pe Șoseaua Petricani, am fost la un pas de o nenorocire. Și nu din cauza unei erori de moment, ci a unui sistem care pare gestionat de niște Dorei, ca multe altele în țara asta!

Stan criticized the railway system, suggesting it was poorly managed and put lives at risk. He questioned who would be responsible if a similar incident occurred with no clear escape route. The incident highlighted concerns about the safety and reliability of the crossing's automated system, which had previously caused long delays.

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După zeci de minute de așteptare, timp în care barierele au rămas coborâte pentru trecerea a trei trenuri (la minute bune unul de altul), acestea s-au ridicat, în sfârșit. Prima mașină din coloană a pornit. A intrat pe calea ferată. Doar că, aproape imediat, barierele s-au coborât din nou. Mașina a rămas blocată între bariere, chiar pe șine.

CFR SA, the railway infrastructure manager, attributed such incidents to drivers' impatience. A spokesperson stated that drivers are obligated to wait for barriers to fully rise and for a green light before proceeding. They explained that barriers can lower at any moment due to approaching trains or operational commands. The authority emphasized that drivers must ensure they can safely clear the crossing and should not enter if barriers are not fully raised, as they can descend unexpectedly.

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Vorbind despre un mecanism care funcționează defectuos și care, pe lângă că lasă oamenii să aștepte zeci de minute degeaba, le mai pune și viața în pericol.