An explosion and subsequent fire of several tanker cars containing fuel in the north-eastern town of Bialystok, Monday, was finally extinguished after 230 fire-fighters managed to contain the blaze by the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Hundreds of passengers travelling between Bialystok and the provincial town of Lapy are having to travel on replacement bus services after Monday’s fire wrecked tracks and power cables at a major rail junction in the north-eastern town.
Railway workers are currently working on removing the wreckage to allow trains to run on at least one set of tracks by Thursday. PKP state railways now have to repair around 200 metres of track and traction cables.
Two trains carrying fuel tankers collided on Monday morning, causing one of the cars to explode. In all, 17 tanker cars caught ablaze due to the collision, as well as both locomotives and a nearby signalling box.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, although railway guards have commented that both trains were travelling in opposite directions on adjacent tracks. One of the tankers is supposed to have latched onto the train passing in the opposite direction, causing it to derail and cause the explosion. (jb)
Sources: IAR/PAP