Explosion in Belaya Kalitva could be caused by locomotive malfunction, investigators believe

The reason for the train crash and subsequent explosion at the station Belaya Kalitva in the Rostov Region could be in a violation by the locomotive crew of the operating rules for the rolling stock; while the explosion could be caused by some technical failure of the rolling stock, according to investigators.

According to their version, the train had entered the Belaya Kalitva station faster than established for this railway section. At entering the station, the locomotive and 51 wagons of the freight train got derailed with subsequent ignition of the locomotive and several cars. The fire of wagons with fuel and lubricants caused a huge explosion, the website of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) reports.

According to investigators, the locomotive crew consisted of three persons – two operators and an assistant. One of the operators, who received serious bodily injuries, remains at the intensive care unit.

In total, there were 69 wagons in the train, including grain and container carriers, tankers and other cars. The train was carrying propane, gasoline, fuel oil, methylene chloride, solid sodium hydroxide, vegetable oil, steel, plywood, timber and black metal. The freight train was to reach the station of Bataysk, the ITAR-TASS reports.