Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM – Preliminary investigations into Sunday's accident involving a passenger train and a maintenance truck showed that a contractor's violation of rules caused the mishap, the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has said. The truck driver died while four others, including the train driver, were injured when the Dammam bound Riyadh train collided with the truck near Abqaiq in the Eastern Province on Sunday evening. All passengers were unhurt in the accident, in which the train's front side sustained damages. According to SRO statement, an investigation into the accident revealed that the truck's driver and his assistant were hit by the train while they were on a maintenance work on the track as per the instructions of a sub-contractor. The accident could have been avoided if the safety rules and instructions were observed, the statement said. “When the train left Abqaiq station, the driver saw all of a sudden the truck on the track in a fenced area, and even though he tried his best to stop it by applying brakes, he failed. The truck driver died while his assistant as well as the train driver, his assistant and a translator sustained injuries.” It was revealed in investigations that the truck driver and his assistant were working for a sub-contractor who is implementing the line extension work, which was awarded to Saad Al-Mobti and his partners contracting company. It was found that the contractor violated the regulations that all the track work should be stopped 15 minutes before the train's scheduled arrival time and that the equipment be kept at least five meters away from the track. The contractor also violated the regulation that he should inform the control station whenever any device moving along the track or approaching it. SRO said that punitive measures, including imposition of a fine, will be taken against the contractor, who caused the accident. SRO President Mohammed Al-Suwaiket said the organization is not fully exempted from the responsibility for the accident. “The concerned agency at SRO should have followed up with the contractor to ensure that he is abiding by the safety regulations. The organization would come up with a clear mechanism to avoid such accidents in future,” he added.
