Human error leads to German maglev train crash

Human error led to the high-speed train crash last month in north-western Germany, local German state prosecutor said Wednesday.

"Both employees in the control room made a clear mistake," said state prosecutor Alexander Retemeyer, adding that the radio log showed both employees had given the all-clear for the Transrapid " maglev" train though the 60-ton maintenance truck was still on the track.

"The train driver was partly responsible as he drove off though the obstacle was still on the track," he said, "he did not apply the brakes before the collision although visibility was good."

The driver was killed instantly.

Retemeyer said the employees would be officially investigated once they were out of shock, said the state prosecutor's office.

The Transrapid magnetic levitation train floating on a magnetic cushion ran into a maintenance vehicle on a test track in the Emsland area of Germany nearly two weeks ago, killing 23 people and injured 10.

The train, which can run as fast as 450 km an hour, was developed by a joint venture between German industrial firms Siemens AG and Thyssen Krupp.

The crash triggered doubt about the safety of the Transrapid technology, but its builders say the technology is safe.

Source: Xinhua