The collision highlights ongoing concerns regarding railway safety in Russia, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
The quick response from emergency services and the establishment of an operational headquarters demonstrate the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident.
The compensation measures put in place by Russian Railways reflect an effort to address the immediate needs of those affected by the tragedy.
On December 18, a tragic collision occurred between a passenger train and a freight train in the Kandalaksha District of the Murmansk Region, Russia. The incident took place at approximately 16:15 Moscow time when the passenger train No. 11, traveling from Murmansk to St. Petersburg with 326 passengers on board, collided sideways with a freight train at Knyazhaya station. This resulted in the derailment of four cars in the tail section of the passenger train.
As a result of the collision, one person has died, and at least 11 others were reported injured, including a teenager. The condition of five individuals is serious, while six others, including the teenager, are in moderate condition. The injured were evacuated to Kandalaksha Central Regional Hospital for treatment. In response to the emergency, Russian Railways announced compensation payments: 1 million rubles for hospitalized victims, 500,000 rubles for those who sought medical assistance on-site, and 2.2 million rubles for the relatives of the deceased. All passengers on the train will also receive a full refund for their tickets and 20,000 bonus points.
The incident occurred under severe weather conditions, with temperatures dropping to -25 °C in the Kandalaksha region. An investigation is underway by the Kandalaksha Transport Prosecutor's Office to assess passenger rights and compliance with railway safety regulations. Additionally, a criminal case has been opened under Article 263 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to violations of railway safety rules. Initial reports suggest that the collision may have been caused by a technical malfunction of the freight train, which had experienced issues with its pantograph earlier in the day and possibly suffered brake failure.
As of 20:22 Moscow time, train No. 11 resumed its journey to St. Petersburg with 314 passengers in eight undamaged carriages. The locomotive was reattached to the overhead power line, allowing it to continue its route despite the earlier incident.
