Train derails in Poland's Małopolska region; investigation underway

Specialized commissions and technical services are investigating the site of a train derailment in Wierchomla, Poland, where several wagons fell into the Poprad River. The train's engineer has been confirmed to be sober. Six empty freight train wagons derailed on Friday between Muszyna and Kędzierzyn-Koźle. By Saturday morning, two of the derailed wagons had been righted. The 17 wagons involved in the incident were moved to a side track in Nowy Sącz for inspection by the State Railway Accident Investigation Commission. "A special commission has been appointed to investigate the causes of this event. The engineer underwent tests which showed he was sober and no intoxicants were found in his body. Services are currently working at the site, and efforts to remove the consequences of the event are underway," stated Julita Sołtysiak of PKP Cargo. Specialized equipment is expected to arrive from Muszyna on Saturday to remove the remaining wagons from the track. Once cleared, railway workers can begin repairing the severely damaged track, which was damaged in two places. Preliminary estimates suggest that track repairs and wagon recovery could take at least another day. The exact causes of the derailment are still unknown and are being investigated by the State Railway Accident Investigation Commission. Rail traffic disruptions continue on the Nowy Sącz – Krynica-Zdrój section, with bus services replacing trains during the cleanup operations.

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The engineer underwent tests which showed he was sober and no intoxicants were found in his body. Services are currently working at the site, and efforts to remove the consequences of the event are underway