Accidents

At Least 5 Killed by Speeding Train in Italy

AUG 31 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

On Thursday, a speeding out-of-service train killed five nighttime track maintenance workers in northern Italy.
ABC News
The workers were replacing a portion of track outside the station of Brandizzo, on the line connecting Milan and Turin, when the train carrying wagons ran over them.
WION
Brandizzo Mayor Paolo Bodoni said there were indications that the train crew was unaware of the workers on the tracks. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini has added that human error was a definite factor in the accident.
The Associated Press
Two nearby maintenance workers — including the team's foreman — were left untouched, while the train driver also survived the accident.
guardian
Italy's largest union said that railway maintenance staff would hold a half-day national strike on Friday, adding that further stoppages were planned on Monday in the Piedmont region around Turin.
Reuters
While an investigation into the collision is underway, railway police have reportedly lowered the estimated speed of the train to close to 100km per hour as opposed to the previously reported 160km per hour.
The Associated Press

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Thursday's accident resulted from the lowering of safety standards to speed up development and cut costs. Considering that more than 750 Italian workers died on the job in 2020, an urgent plan of investment in safety in the workplace is required so that tragedies like this never happen again.

The Local

Pro-establishment narrative

As the cause of Thursday's accident hasn't yet been ascertained, it would be unwise to use these tragic fatalities to play politics. Whether it was a human error, technical fault, or a communication failure, the government must prioritize victims and their families.