Prosecution completes probe into Cairo's Ramses train accident

CAIRO – 17 June 2019: The public prosecution has completed its probe into the huge fire that broke out at Cairo's Ramses train station in February.

A train locomotive rammed into the station's buffer stop at the end of the rail tracks, causing a huge fire and leaving casualties, according to a statement released by the Railway Authority.

The prosecution concluded its investigations by several recommendations seeking to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents.

The prosecution investigations into February's as well as similar recent accidents revealed beyond any doubt that they were primarily attributed to the gross negligence of the authority's employees involved in these accidents and their failure to abide by the instructions in place, which the legislator deem criminal offenses.

The investigations were supported by evidence drawn from several sources such as surveying the scene of an accident, analyzing witnesses' statements, specialized technical reports
as well as the defendants' confessions.

According to a statement released Monday by the public prosecutor's office, some drivers were found to deliberately disabled automatic train control (ATC) devices which continuously displays allowable speed of the vehicle and automatically stops or decelerates a train if it exceeds the permissible speed.

In addition, investigations revealed that a number of unqualified workers used to fumble with the relays panels designed to change the vehicle route automatically.

Maneuvering operators and drivers' assistants also failed to be present at their assigned places, which increased the likelihood of accidents, the statement added.

Moreover, the prosecution inquiries showed that some drivers had operated their vehicles despite the technical defects in certain equipment.

Signal-tower operators were also found in breach of their working duties.