A collision between two trains, loaded with diesel fuel and chemical fertilizers respectively, was avoided at the last moment on Thursday morning at Sighisoara station after the driver of the GFR train fell asleep, reports Railway Club. At the same time, Club Feroviar accused CFR SA of initially trying to cover up the incident.

The driver of the GFR train fell asleep

The driver of the GFR train fell asleep, causing his train to pass through a red exit signal. In addition, the train was in violation from the point of view of railway safety, having disabled the INDUSI protection system. This is a dangerous practice that some drivers resort to in order to save themselves the trouble. The INDUSI system prevents the locomotive from exceeding the red signal by means of inductors located both on the locomotive and at the level of the signal, the quoted source said.

A serious train accident was avoided because the driver of the CER Fersped train, which was entering the station on the same line, noticed the GFR train coming towards him and braked suddenly.

The driver of the GFR train was allegedly intoxicated. Despite the fact that he smelled of alcohol, he did not pass the test. In addition, he was allowed to reverse the train, which is a difficult procedure. The GFR train was traveling on the Dei Sfantu Gheorghe route and the incident should have happened around 4-5 am at the mentioned station.

Investigation for “immediate reporting of an event”

Club Feroviar also writes that, although CFR SA denies this, information suggests that the infrastructure manager tried to hush up the situation.

Thus, in response to the Feroviar Club, ASFR (Romanian Railway Safety Service) ordered a “state investigation to establish the reasons that led to the failure to report the railway incident immediately, as well as the application of the measures provided for by the current legislation.”

Thus, from the moment of the accident, more than 12 hours would have passed before the ASCHR found out about it.

“The competent institutions for the investigation of the railway incident that occurred at the Sighisoara CF station were approved in accordance with the Regulation on the investigation of accidents and incidents, the development and improvement of railway traffic safety, approved by GD No. 117/17.02.2010, after the completion of the investigation, the conclusions must to be found in the investigation report compiled by the Romanian Railway Investigation Agency (AGIFER),” CFR SA managers told Club Feroviar.