Two trains collided on the railway line between Bratislava and Pezinok on Sunday evening, injuring dozens of passengers. The University Hospital in Bratislava activated its trauma plan in response, and emergency services continued to operate at the scene throughout the night.
Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD) confirmed on Monday morning that all patients were out of danger following the collision. “Seventy-nine people ended up in hospitals, with two of them seriously injured,” he said before a special government session.
President Peter Pellegrini called for a swift and thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in rail transport. “After the second such incident in a short period of time, people must not lose faith in rail transport and should continue to trust its safety,” he wrote on social media.
According to preliminary findings, the cause of the accident was likely one of the trains running a red light, said Ivan Bednárik, general director of the state-run rail infrastructure operator ŽSR. The collision led to major disruptions in regional and long-distance rail services. Some express trains were diverted via Trnava and Galanta, while several regional connections were cancelled and others delayed by more than an hour. A full return to normal operations will take place gradually, depending on track and terrain conditions.
According to the Association of Railway Carriers of Slovakia (AROS), the collision of two trains likely would not have occurred if both trains had been equipped with mobile units of the ETCS safety system. The association called on the relevant authorities to urgently draw up a timetable for the full implementation of ETCS-only operation, similar to what has already been introduced on main lines in the Czech Republic.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the collision to ensure that similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
Source: TASR
