Freight Train Endangered by Tampered Switch, Concrete Slab on Tracks in Romania

A freight train faced a dangerous situation in Romania's Petroșani railway station on Sunday when it encountered objects placed on the tracks. The incident, which occurred around 4:10 PM, involved a dislodged component of a switch mechanism and a concrete slab found on line 2.

According to CFR SA, the national railway company, the train first encountered the "DAM" device, an auxiliary component for switch operation, which had been detached and lifted. Normally, this element is sealed and secured. Subsequently, a concrete slab belonging to a cable channel was identified on the line within the train's path.

CFR SA stated that initial findings suggest unauthorized interference with the railway infrastructure. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances, including how the concrete slab ended up on the tracks and why the switch component was tampered with. The Railway Transport Police have been notified and are conducting an investigation at the scene.

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CFR S.A. considers such actions against the railway infrastructure inadmissible. Placing objects on the railway and unauthorized intervention on installations can cause serious accidents, damage rolling stock and infrastructure, and directly endanger the safety of rail traffic and personnel.

The company issued a stern warning about the potential consequences of such actions, emphasizing that placing objects on the tracks or unauthorized tampering with installations can lead to severe accidents, damage to rolling stock and infrastructure, and endanger the safety of rail traffic and personnel. The concrete slab alone posed a direct obstacle to moving trains.

Railway traffic was suspended following the incident but was reopened at 5:10 PM after necessary checks were completed to ensure safe operations.

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A concrete slab placed within the track gauge can constitute a direct obstacle to train traffic and can generate serious consequences for rolling stock and railway infrastructure. At the same time, any unauthorized intervention on the elements of a switch or related devices can affect their operation and, implicitly, the safety conditions under which traffic and rolling stock maneuvering are carried out in a station.