Proastiakos train with 72 passengers on board party derailed

A Proastiakos suburban railway service from Rio to Agios Andreas in the port city of Patras with 72 people on board was partially derailed on Wednesday, the Hellenic Train said in a press release.

The train came off  the tracks at the junction of Gounari and Othonos Streets in Patras.

None of the 72 passengers on board were injured, the Hellenic Train added.

pictures via skai.gr

According to preliminary information obtained by daily ethnos.gr, the train derailment shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday is due to a distortion of the track.

The track has been “warped”, the daily noted, adding citing sources that at this point train speed is low and therefore speed was not to blame for the derailment. 

Mega TV ported that the train was moving at a speed of 15 km/hour because drivers are aware of the track problems. “It is over 100 years old and it is rotten,” the reported stressed.

Due to the partial derailment, the 12305 and 12306 train services have been cancelled, while the 12304, 12307 and 12308 services have been partially cancelled in the Agios Andreas-Patra section, the Hellenic Train announcement added.