'Human error' blamed for Casablanca-Fez train crash

The train conductor and the train chief did not respect "the protection signal" which was in the "stop position", said ONCF in a release, noting that "the employee who was killed in the crash had no responsibility for the accident".

 

According to an investigation conducted by an ONCF commission of experts, "a freight train coming from the Ain Sebaa rail station normally entered a service platform in the Zenatta station. Hence, the signaling system automatically put the protection signal in the stop position".

 

"The train conductor and the train chief did not respect the stop sign and therefore crossed at a high speed, despite emergency brake, a switch lined for diversion , said the same source, adding that this has made the train run off track before hitting an employee and an empty wagon on an adjacent track, ONCF explained. ONCF noted that the "signaling systems, track and catenaries were "functioning normally" and the train had anomalies.