Egypt’s Public Prosecution ordered late on Monday the detention of a train station controller and stationmaster pending investigations into the Ayat train accident, after preliminary findings pointed to negligence and safety violations.
According to the Public Prosecution’s statement, Investigations revealed that the driver of train No. 134 had disabled the train’s automatic control system, while the controller and stationmaster at El-Raqqa station admitted failing to monitor the control panel for signal tower No. T10. The controller was also found to have tampered with the signals logbook in an attempt to conceal evidence of his negligence.
The Public Prosecution also ordered the formation of an engineering committee comprising professors from Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering to examine the railway system, including operations, monitoring, equipment, signalling, maintenance, safety procedures and the human factor. The committee will also review previous train accidents to identify recurring causes and determine any shortcomings and those responsible.
Prosecution investigators inspected the accident site, reviewed surveillance footage and questioned witnesses, railway officials and injured passengers.
The prosecution also ordered that the train driver’s assistant be placed in custody until he can be questioned. The engineering committee is continuing its technical examination to establish the causes of the accident and determine the responsibilities of those involved.
