PASSENGER TRAIN AND TRUCK COLLIDE IN FRANCE

[ECH1969]

A passenger train and a truck transporting gas canisters have collided in northern France. More to follow...

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1185010,00.html?f=dta

[soleft]

1. My Boss is in France today

[katinmn]

2. oh no. This sounds horrible

Let's hope no one is killed or injured but it sounds bad.

[Mass]

4. According to french news, there are at least people injured

but they dont give a number.

It happened in a small town about 100 miles north of Paris.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Wonder if they'll laugh over it at FreeRepublic

[wschalle]

8. yeah... they are lauging it up

bastards
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1419624/posts

[CottonBear]

5. It happened in Saint-Laurent-Blangy, near Arras. More from Sky News:

A passenger train and a truck transporting gas canisters have collided in northern France.

The truck broke down on a level crossing and the train ran straight into it, an official at the nearby town hall in the town of Saint-Laurent-Blangy, near Arras, said.


An eyewitness said he heard several explosions and said several vehicles crashed into each other as they tried to drive away from the scene of the collision.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1185010,00.html?f=dta

This sounds really bad. :(

[gp]

6. update: witness heard more than 50 explosions

truck driver got out on time.

http://www.liberation.fr/page.php?Article=302829

[Mass]

7. No victims according to French news right now.

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/050609/290/4gey1.html

[katinmn]

12. That's wonderful to learn no one was killed. Thanks,.

[DemoTex]

9. Is it the TGV - Train de Grande Vitesse?

Sounds very grim.


TGV

[DemoTex]

11. Ironically, Dr. DemoTex is meeting with a former NTSB member today.

He was a Clinton appointee and was well known for his expertise in train accident investigations (even though he had an airline background). She is on a National Academy of Sciences committee studying air safety.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. First Guess

No. I think it has a dedicated right of way. Its routes are shared with no other traffice, and they are grade separated. That is, there is no place where cars cross tracks used by the TGV. Again, just a guess.

Expect posts here: Trainorders International Discussion

[uppityperson]

10. 2 more links here, English language

Longer story on 1st one.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1647724,00.html
http://www.itv.com/news/index_1205309.html