Train crash in Poland: new details emerge as machinists announce nationwide protest
A collision between a PKP Intercity train and a truck in Sokolniki Suche, central Poland, killed one passenger and injured several others on Wednesday, prompting the railway machinists' union to call a nationwide protest for Friday that could cause major delays.
What happened in Sokolniki Suche
On Wednesday morning, September 9, in the Masovia region near national road No. 12, a PKP Intercity train "Koziołek" (running from Lublin Główny to Szczecin) collided with a truck — a concrete mixer — at a railway crossing. About 120 passengers were on board.
One person died: a 39-year-old female passenger from the first carriage, who died after being evacuated from the train. Reports differ slightly on the number of injured: WP Wiadomości says seven people were taken to hospitals, while Interia puts the number of injured at ten. The train driver and the truck driver were the most seriously hurt.
Conflicting accounts of the collision
Initial reports said the truck had driven into the carriage. However, according to Włodzimierz Kiełczyński, director of the Safety Office at PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (as cited by Polsat News), footage reviewed later showed that it was actually the locomotive that struck the truck, which was standing on the tracks. He said the truck had entered the crossing from the direction of road No. 12 against a red signal, though it is not yet clear from which lane.
Kiełczyński explained that the impact caused the locomotive to lift up, catch on part of the truck, spin 180 degrees and fall onto the first carriage, tearing open its side — which he said explains the severe injuries and the fatality.
Machinists' protest and its impact on rail traffic
In response to the crash, the Trade Union of Railway Machinists announced a nationwide protest for Friday, calling on all train drivers to cross railway crossings at a reduced speed of 20 km/h. Union president Leszek Miętek said a "red line" had been crossed and demanded stronger safety measures at crossings.
According to Interia, after meeting with Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak, the union leader said he intended to ask for the protest to be shortened, ending at noon on Friday instead of lasting the whole day.
PKP Intercity CEO Janusz Malinowski confirmed that no trains would be cancelled, but warned of significant delays, particularly on routes such as Kraków–Zakopane, where part of the journey will be replaced by buses. All Polish rail carriers have agreed to mutually honor each other's tickets, and passengers will be able to cancel Friday trips without penalty. Minister Klimczak added that stricter legislation on penalties for crossing violations is being prepared for submission to the Council of Ministers in the near future.
