VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Railways (VNR) recently imposed sanctions on and fired more than 10 directors and officers after consecutive train accidents last month, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The train accident in Thanh Hoa Province killed two persons. – VNA/VNS Photo

In a severe accident on May 24 between a train numbered SE19 and a truck in Tinh Gia District in the central province of Thanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa Railways Company sentenced its deputy director, Nguyen Van Minh, and dismissed Le Nhan Bao, head of Hoang Mai barriers keeper team, and Dao Khanh Thien, head of the No 5 railway management department.

The company has also decided to prolong the pay raise periods of three other officers.

Two persons were killed, and eight others were injured in the accident. 

“Whether these sentences will be aggravated or mitigated depends on the conclusion of the police investigation into the case,” said Vu Anh Mình, head of VNR Members’ Council.

Regarding the collision between two rail freights at the Nui Thanh Station in Quang Nam Province on May 26, seven officers were sentenced to imprisonment, including station head Duong Van Minh and freight driver Duong Tran Chi Hieu, who were also suspended.

Another accident on May 26 at the Yen Xuan Station in Nghe An Province, in which a train was derailed, forced VNR to reduce the pay of two officers.

At a meeting of the VNR Disciplinary Council, VNR director Vu Ta Tung and deputy director Doan Duy Hoach volunteered to receive strong sentences. However, the council voted against it and decided to serve them lighter ones.

In May last year, the railways connecting Hanoi and HCM City witnessed five accidents, which killed two and injured 11. VNR was blamed for three of the collisions.

From December 16, 2017, to May 15, 2018, there were 122 train accidents in Vietnam, a reduction of 30 cases compared to the same period last year. 

Source: VNS