Israeli Train Crash

BBC News are reporting seven dead in a level crossing collision between a train and a truck. Judging from the TV pictures the train looks like a Danish-designed IC3 DMU. Most of one side of a carraige was ripped out; it's a miracle the death toll isn't higher, given reports that the train was standing room only.

Like the recent crashes at Ufton Nervet in Britain, and Los Angeles in the US, the cause was a road vehicle on a level crossing. According to a report by Haaretz, the authorities have ruled out terrorism. The truck driver was among the dead.

As technology improves, and trains get safer, the one remaining big risk factor is the interface with untrained and sometimes reckless members of the general public. Road crossings are one of the most dangerous of those interfaces. I don't know if the crossing in Israel had barriers, but reports of the accident being a long way from major roads suggests it's a minor road, possibly a minor farm track, likely to be without barriers.

My sympathies to the injured and the families of the dead.