Rail Tunnel Disaster in Austria

I have just heard that more than 100 people are feared dead in a burning train in a tunnel in the Austrian alps; can any of our European members post any up to date news about this including details of which line this is on, where it is and what type of locos and stock would be involved?

How would they attempt rescue/salvage in this situation?

What a terrible disaster for everyone involved and all their relatives.

Ben

 

CNN news is carrying it here in U.S. How does an electric catch fire? What is to burn?

 

My prayers go out to all of those invovled. Terrible, terrible tragedy. Any specifics on this?, I can't search for information right now, but I will later today.

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Drew

WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD.

 

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Up to 170 people were feared dead today after a train packed with skiers caught fire in a tunnel on its way to a glacier resort in Austria.

The Red Cross said only seven people managed to save themselves but the rest were trapped inside the narrow funicular at Kitzsteinhorn.

Rescuers said the inferno tore through the carriages and the rest of the passengers were dead by the time they reached the scene.

The Foreign Office said it did not know if any Britons were among those who died in the tunnel, said to be like "travelling up a chimney".

Salzburg Red Cross commander Gerhard Huber said there were between 150 and 170 victims, of which half were Austrians and the rest were from other countries.

The train, which is pulled up the side of the mountain by cables, was about 600m inside the 3.6km long tunnel when the blaze broke out.

"The fire engulfed two carriages in the middle of the tunnel," said Mr Huber.

"It was impossible for rescuers to reach them quickly. This is a truly shocking and horrific disaster.

"This area is popular for snowboarding and we fear a lot of young people may have died.

"The work for the rescuers and the police is very difficult and harrowing.

"There was no chance for the people to come out alive, I fear."

There were believed to have been between 170 and 180 people in the two carriages when a small fire quickly grew, he added.

Around 200 rescue workers, using at least seven helicopters, battled to get to the train but were hampered by the rugged terrain.

Three people in a station at the top of the railway were also killed by poisonous fumes, police in Salzburg said.

Spokesman Gottfried Gamsjaeger said investigators were on their way to determine the cause of the blaze.

The tunnel fire would have been "extremely difficult" to tackle, a Channel Tunnel fire expert warned today.

Senior divisional officer Ian Muir, of Kent Fire Brigade, said: "For the passengers on the train, it will be very tough. It is an unnatural environment and totally enclosed."

Norbert Karlsboeck, the mayor of Kaprun, a town near the accident scene, said that the fire continued burning more than three hours after it broke out, sending smoke spewing out from the bottom of the tunnel, which begins more than 600 yards above sea level.
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Matthew
wheres all the C636's????


stickymonk.com
Matts Photo gallery

 

I am hearing that possibly a cable may have snapped before the train entered the tunnel, although how this contributed to the fire starting (if it did), I don't understand, unless there was an electrical short circuit, sparks etc.

Ben