The passenger train that derailed between Katowice and Tychy on Wednesday afternoon, injuring 30 passengers, was exceeding the speed limit by 80 kph.

The so-called Flirt train ran off rails at a speed of 117 kph when it should have been doing not more than 40.

The train seriously damaged rails in both directions, and brought rail traffic to a standstill on the route. A commission has been established to investigate the accident and confirm if excessive speed could have been the main cause. Investigators say that on some parts of the stretch of rails in question speeds of up to 120 kms are acceptable. 

The Swiss-made Flirt is one of the newest types of train operated by Polish Railways. (ek)

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