According to Kyodo News and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), on August 20 local time, a train collision with workers occurred at Shin-karumasa Station in northern Tokyo, Japan, resulting in the death of four workers.
The Japanese Toei Railway Company stated in a press conference that the accident occurred around 10:45 am local time on the 20th. The incident took place within the station area of Toei Shinikazan Station on the Toei Toei Line in Kazuo, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The train 'SPACIA X 2', heading from Toei Toquyo to Asakusa, collided with four male workers, resulting in the deaths of all four persons involved.
According to the Tochigi Prefecture police, four people were in the area while carrying out weed removal work at that time. Three of them were crushed under the train, and one was found on the platform. The victims were between fifty and sixty years old. The police are investigating whether safety procedures were followed at the accident site.
The Tohoku Railway Company stated that the express train was scheduled to stop at Shinkaruma Station and was entering the station. After the accident, some sections of the up and down lines of the Tohoku Shinkansen were suspended. There were approximately 50 passengers and crew members on the train, and no injuries have been reported yet.
Due to this accident, all train services on the Tohoku Line were suspended. A passenger on the train recalled hearing a “strange sound” before the train's emergency braking. The passenger stated that passengers were trapped on the train for some time, and staff announced that they were investigating the source of the unusual noise.
According to the BBC, the involved train was a express train. It is the second-class high-speed train in Japan, after the Shinkansen. The railway authorities stated that there were ten workers present at the scene on the day of the incident, including one supervisor and three lookout personnel who were responsible for alerting workers to avoid oncoming trains.
According to the regulations, when performing tasks such as weeding within the line, a lookout person should visually confirm the approaching train, then notify the workers to evacuate. After confirming that the evacuation is complete, a signal should be sent to the train driver using a flag. After the driver confirms this, a horn signal must be sounded.
In the face of repeated questions from reporters about whether anyone fulfilled their duty of watchkeeping at the time of the accident, railway officials did not provide a clear answer. A representative from Tokui Railway previously stated, “The regular watchkeeping system was functioning normally at that time.”
"We are currently investigating why accidents continue to occur despite the current system in place. Suzuki Hirofumi, General Manager of East Japan Railway Company, stated: 'We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by this accident. We also express sincere sympathy to the families of those who were killed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to all affected individuals and passengers as a result of this incident.' "
