Four Workers Die After Express Train Hits Them North of Tokyo

Four workers died Thursday after an express train hit them at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

The men, in their 50s and 60s, were on the tracks removing weeds when the accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. on the Tobu Nikko Line. The train, a Spacia X limited-express bound for Asakusa in Tokyo, was approaching the platform and was due to stop at Shin-Kanuma Station. None of the approximately 50 passengers or the train crew were injured.

A total of seven workers were engaged in weeding work at the site; the other three were uninjured. Tobu Railway Co., the operator, stated that a designated lookout is required to visually check for approaching trains and alert workers to move away from the tracks. The lookout then signals the train driver with a flag, and the driver acknowledges by sounding the horn.

Company officials said at a press conference that the train driver sounded the horn after seeing a flag signal, but Tobu Railway has not confirmed whether the lookout properly alerted the workers. Police are investigating if safety guidelines were followed.