Four workers dead after being hit by train in Japan

Fatal Accident on Tobu Nikko Line

Four workers lost their lives on Thursday after being struck by an express train at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, police and the train operator reported. The men, aged in their 50s and 60s, were clearing weeds on the tracks when the accident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time, according to police statements carried by The Japan Times and the South China Morning Post.

The incident took place on the Tobu Nikko Line, where a six-car Spacia X limited express bound for Asakusa in Tokyo hit the workers. The train was due to stop at Shin-Kanuma Station and was approaching the platform when the collision happened, Tobu Railway said. Around 50 passengers were aboard at the time, but no crew or passengers were injured, according to the operator.

Seven workers were engaged in weeding work when the accident occurred, including the four who died. The South China Morning Post reported that the other three workers were uninjured. However, The Japan Times reported that at the time of the accident, ten workers employed by several companies were involved in the work, with seven clearing weeds and three acting as lookouts. The discrepancies in the number of workers present highlight the differing accounts from the two outlets.

Services on the Tobu Nikko Line were partially suspended following the accident, as reported by both outlets.

Investigation and Police Raid

On Sunday, Tochigi Prefectural Police raided an office of a Tobu Railway group company on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death, according to The Japan Times. The weed-clearing work had been contracted out to Tobu Kensetsu, based in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Police established a special investigation squad on Friday to examine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The Japan Times reports that the train driver said he had recognized a signal indicating that workers had left the tracks, even though they were still present. This statement is central to the negligence investigation, as it suggests a potential miscommunication or procedural failure.

Safety Procedures and Lookout Failures

According to Tobu Railway, internal regulations govern worker evacuation procedures. When a train approaches, lookouts signal other workers with whistles and other devices. Workers then stop their work and evacuate from the tracks while communicating with lookouts. After confirming that all workers have moved to a safe location, a lookout signals the train driver by holding a yellow flag horizontally. The driver is required to sound the horn upon seeing the flag.

At the time of the accident, three lookouts were assigned along the tracks, including one positioned about 80 meters from the work site who was responsible for raising the flag. A relay lookout was also assigned to signal when the train came within about 500 meters of the work site. However, The Japan Times reports that the relay lookout "reportedly said that it was 'not possible to communicate with the train lookout.'" This communication breakdown may have contributed to the failure to warn the workers in time.

The driver of the express train has said that he saw the yellow flag from the train lookout and sounded the train's horn, according to The Japan Times. This account, if accurate, suggests that the driver believed the workers had cleared the tracks, raising questions about the lookout's confirmation process.

Aftermath and Response

The South China Morning Post reported that emergency services arrived to find three workers trapped under the train and one on the platform. The exact number of workers involved in the weeding operation remains contested, with one account citing seven and another citing ten, including lookouts.

The partial suspension of services on the Tobu Nikko Line following the accident disrupted travel in the region. The investigation by the Tochigi Prefectural Police is ongoing, focusing on potential negligence by the contracted company and the railway operator's safety procedures.

As the investigation continues, the incident has raised concerns about the adequacy of safety measures for track maintenance workers. The differing accounts from The Japan Times and the South China Morning Post regarding the number of workers and the lookout arrangements underscore the complexity of the situation.