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Moscow-St. Petersburg Train Derails
The Neva Express passenger train from Moscow to St. Petersburg has derailed after an explosion, Russian Railways deputy head of corporate communications Igor Plotnikov told RBC. Later, he specified “outsider influence” as the cause of the accident, adding that only law enforcement could give a more detailed account of the incident. A police spokesman told Vesti television news that a pit a meter and a half deep and equally wide was formed under the ninth car of the train. Thus, a terrorist act cannot be ruled out.
At present, a team headed by Russian Railways first vice president Vadim Morozov is on the scene. Deputy Minister of Transportation Boris Korol is also there, along with director of the federal transportation supervision agency Rostransnadzor Genbnady Kurvenkov and Russian Railways president Vladimir Yakunin, who cut short a business trip to Irkutsk.
The accident occurred in Novgorod Region between Burga and Malaya Vishera at 2:38 p.m. Moscow time. Thirteen rail cars left the tracks, resulting in 60 injuries, including 20 hospitalizations. Three of those injured are in critical condition. The remaining passengers, among the 251 on board the train, were sent farther along on a special diesel train. It was due to reach St. Petersburg at around 3:00 a.m. Movement has been halted on the section of the rail line where the accident occurred. Trains to St. Petersburg are being detoured. A work train has been dispatched to the scene of the accident.
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