Train driver went the wrong way in LRT crash, says minister

 

Transport minister Wee Ka Siong says initial investigations into last night’s crash indicate it was a human error. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The driver of the LRT train without passengers, which collided head-on with another train carrying 213 people, had driven in the wrong direction, says transport minister Wee Ka Siong.

At a press conference, Wee said preliminary investigations indicate that human error was to blame for the incident last night, which resulted in 47 passengers being seriously injured.

The rest suffered minor injuries.

He said the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) investigations found that the train driver, or hostler, of train number 40 failed to follow the correct orientation.

The train, which was not carrying passengers, was initially being driven automatically. It was headed south from the Kampung Baru station towards the Dang Wangi station.
However, it suffered a technical issue, forcing it to be driven manually.

“Initial findings have found that the accident was caused by negligence by the hostler that was driving TR40 in the wrong direction,” he said.

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