Full steam ahead in crash inquiry

The investigation in to Tuesday's train crash in Sa Pobla gathered momentum yesterday with the SFM Majorca Railway Service estimating the costs of the damage at 1.2 million euros. In total six people were injured, one of whom, the 26-year-old ticket inspector, David Tirado was seriously hurt, but local government sources said that he was operated on at Son Dureta hospital yesterday and that the injuries are not life threatening. Four other injured passengers were released from Muro hospital throughout the day yesterday, while a fifth was to undergo a final medical examination. The railway company has set up a special investigations board, headed by the SFM chairman and the railway's lawyer. The rail company made it clear yesterday that an “exhaustive investigation will be carried out with all possibilities, human, technical, meteorological etc. studied.” At this early stage of the inquiry, it appears that the 12-ton concrete railway buffer functioned “correctly,” according to rail company sources. On the one hand it absorbed the full impact of the speeding train full of commuters and on the other, prevented the train from being completely derailed - the first carriage came to rest on top of the up-ended concrete block. The railway explained yesterday that prior to the departure of its trains, engineers are given at least 50 minutes to carry out all the necessary checks at the start of the day, and spend a further 40 minutes going over the carriages at the end of each day. Despite the accident, the Majorcan railway's safety record is exemplary. In an official statement, the Minister for Public Works, pointed out that if a car driver left his car at home and used the train, the accident risk “would be reduced by 20.” Yesterday all rail services between Inca and Sa Pobla were back to normal. The crippled train was lifted off the tracks on Tuesday afternoon with a fleet of coaches substituting cancelled rail services while repairs were carried out.