Greece Charges 33 in Court - But Malaysia offers COMPOUND Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd - meaning NO Charge, No trial and NO conviction >> and NO human persons have been charged yet..both head on collision of 2 trains trains traveling on the same track(which should never happen)
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Malaysia - No officers, directors,..charged? WHY? This was a MAJOR accident - even if NO one died - but many could have died. Thousands ride the LRT everyday - so this kind of negligence and failures not accepted - NOW, Malaysia say NO ONE RESPONSIBLE??? No one was even charged in court YET...
INSTEAD, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd was offered a 'DEAL' which came in the form of a Compound Offer, which is really simply put - 'If you accept the offer, and pay the compound - The INVESTIGATION and/or Prosecution will not continue/proceed - 'end of story'... This way, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, do not even have to admit criminal liability -It was NO FINE - because only Court imposes a FINE, which is a sentence after conviction - MEDIA should not mislead - NOT FINE - a Compound Offer, that was accepted...
Shocking how Malaysia 'PROTECTS' perpetrators, who should have been charged in Court, tried and convicted. Compare HOW Greece has dealt with a similar collision between 2 trains on the same track - 36 persons have been CHARGED in Court - they include senior officials from the Greek railway company, the maintenance firm, the operator and also two senior transport ministry officials... What are they being charged with - 33 face the felony of endangering transport safety, an offense that can carry a sentence of life imprisonment,.. Additional charges include involuntary manslaughter and bodily harm by negligence.Sec. 242 Offences by body corporate(1) If a body corporate commits an offence under this Act, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or was purporting to act in any such capacity or was in any manner or to any extent responsible for the management of any of the affairs of the body corporate or was assisting in such management-(a) may be charged severally or jointly in the same proceedings with the body corporate; and ..
A total of 36 defendants ... include senior officials from the Greek railway company, the maintenance firm and the operator – OSE, ERGOSE and Hellenic Train, respectively – who served between 2016 and early 2023. The stationmaster on duty that night is also among the accused, along with two colleagues who were not at their posts.
BUT in Malaysia, NO one charged. tried or convicted. What seem to have happened is that one of the alleged perpetrator,Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, was offered a 'DEAL' which came in the form of a Compound Offer, which is really simply put - 'If you accept the offer, and pay the compound - The INVESTIGATION and/or Prosecution will not continue/proceed - 'end of story'... This way, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, do not even have to admit criminal liability - since there was NO GUILTY PLEA in any Court, and NO RECORDED Conviction > so, just pay the COMPOUND and all your 'troubles' are gone...
(4) Where an offence has been compounded under subsection (2), no prosecution shall be instituted in respect of the offence against the person to whom the offer to compound was made,.. - Section 235 Compounding of offences LAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACT 2010
Media GETS it wrong - It is not a FINE > It is a compound offer...a FINE generally comes after conviction by COURT.
To explain better, remember Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan - he,who accepted compound offer late - paid about RM1.1 million - and was never convicted or suffered the consequence of conviction/sentence - and for a politician, it also means disqualification as an MP for some time - see Ahmad Maslan's acquittal raises much concern - a MADPET statement . If he was charged, convicted and sentenced - he would have been not able to remain MP or contest for 5 years... NOW, by paying compound, nothing... ??? If tried and convicted, he may have to spend years in prison, and maybe also have to pay a fine - and again, Anwar chose him for a Cabinet position...??
It was shocking how the government again seems to be 'Protecting Certain People', by NOT charging anyone in court for their wrongdoing(be it intentional or negligence) for the 2021 LRT head on collision on the same track that left many injured, at least 47 seriously injured..
When the Ministry's 'INVESTIGATIVE Committee', in their press statements says the following phrase twice, 'This report is not for the purpose of apportioning blame nor liability on any party.' ...It is MOST ODD - should not an investigative committee find out what happen, and more importantly who is to be blamed(or maybe criminally liable) for that failure/omission/neglect --SO VERY WRONG.
If one looks at media report and Press Statement - this was an accident that happened quickly but over about 2 hours - both VOBC fails(manufacturer/supplier fault - or failure to upkeep/maintain). the hostler and OCC’s train controller is 'blamed'? Could the MINISTER be blamed also? Luckily, no one DIED - but there was serious injury
Train 40 experienced technical difficulties and the vehicle on-board communication (VOBC) system was halted on one of two of its VOBC systems at 6.26pm.... at 8.13pm, the second VOBC on Train 40 halted and lost communication (time-out) with the Operations Controlled Centre (OCC) .. It was during the process of resetting both VOBCs and driving the Train 40 manually to the re-entry point, both the hostler and OCC’s train controller had over looked and missed critical procedures. This inadvertently resulted in Train 40 being manually moved towards KLCC station instead of south-bound towards the designated re-entry point at Dang Wangi station. At the same time, Train 81, with passengers on board and on the same track, was held back at KLCC LRT station and a protective manual route reservation (MRR) was implemented while Train 40’s situation was being resolved....However, the MRR was lifted and Train 81 prematurely made to depart KLCC station towards Kampung Baru station without the proper verification that Train 40 had been safely reset and re-entered into ATO mode. This led to the collision between Train 40 and Train 81.
DOES RAPID RAIL EVEN ADMIT ITS WRONGDOINGS/FAILINGS? NO, they do not and they are fighting the victims who are just trying to claim compensation...
WORSE - they blame the injured '...Prasarana and Rapid Rail said that the injuries suffered by the eight were “caused wholly and/or in the alternative, partially by the negligence of the plaintiffs in all material times.”...
I would NEVER have offered them a COMPOUND OFFER - but would have proceeded to charge them all, for the TRUTH will come out in OPEN TRIAL - who was responsible for the accident and injuries "INJURED PASSENGERS" themselves, or Rapid Rail, Officer in charge of the Operations Controlled Centre (OCC), the train driver, the supplier of the VOBC - it malfunctioned twice not once(was there hank panky in picking supplier), ....YES,
he 2021 Kelana Jaya LRT collision was a head-on crash that occurred on 24 May 2021 between an empty train and a passenger-carrying train on the Kelana Jaya Line between Kampung Baru and KLCC stations
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail) deny allegations of negligence over the Kelana Jaya Line LRT crash in 2021 which left 47 commuters seriously injured....Though both companies admitted that a crash did occur, they said claims of negligence by the plaintiffs must be proven with “concrete evidence”. ...Prasarana and Rapid Rail said that the injuries suffered by the eight were “caused wholly and/or in the alternative, partially by the negligence of the plaintiffs in all material times.” “Failing to stand or sit at the locations designated for passengers, failing to hold the straphangers provided by the defendants, with negligence and/or purposely caused and/or allowed themselves to experience the injuries to which they have claimed,” the companies were quoted as saying. - FMT, 29/5/2023
For this kind of COMPANY, that have yet to ADMIT its mistakes/failures and who treat VICTIMS of the accident this way - I would have preferred if Rapid Rail, its Directors, Staff, Drivers,APAD ...and may even the Ministry of Transport officers who are responsible to ensure that trains are safe be charged...
Who investigated? Who made the compound offer? - looks like APAD... should this be investigated? Should someone file a JUDICIAL REVIEW application on the decision to offer a COMPOUND and not to charge in Court?
Ahmad Radhi Maarof is the Director-General of the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) in Malaysia, effective February 2026, overseeing the development and regulation of land public transport.Did Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim(also Prime Minister) 'ASK' that this 'government-owned company be offered a COMPOUND - and NOT be charged and tried in OPEN COURT? Minister Anthony Loke, being the Transport Minister, is also relevant - did he choose the Company over the many passengers who use the LRT/Trains - for the victims of the crash, there is still NO JUSTICE _
Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad incorporated in 2004, is the sole operator of major rapid transit lines in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley,.... Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, a wholly-owned government entity
In my opinion, like GREECE, Malaysia too must CHARGE All in court, allow for a OPEN TRIAL - no more 'protection' of certain companies, and the people criminally liable for the accident/incident
Look at the GAS Pipe explosion - has anyone been charged yet in Court...
OR, Was it all an ACT of GOD - where no one is to be blamed.
ODD, when the Public Prosecutor is charging DRUNK drivers for MURDER - but why is he not charging FAST those responsible for injuries suffered by so many?
WHY was the investigation of this 'criminal act' just confined to offence of LAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACT 2010... Prosecutor DUSUKI tell us about the status of the investigation under the other acts like Penal Code?
JUSTICE demands that ALL criminal perpetrators be CHARGED in Court - including director, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, manager, secretary or other similar officers...
Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail) cannot commit crimes - it is certainly some HUMAN person/s that committed the wrong - so charge these HUMAN persons who decide... who was negligent or fail to do what they should have done... irrespective if that person is a PKR member or some Datuk Seri?
Greece train tragedy trial adjourned amid courtroom chaos
Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told reporters that the hall had seating for over 460 people
A long-awaited trial into Greece’s worst train tragedy opened on Monday – only to be adjourned until April 1 amid chaotic scenes in a courtroom too small to handle the huge interest in the case, officials said.
Hundreds of people turned up for the trial into the 2023 train collision that left 57 dead, leading to complaints from lawyers that the venue was “insultingly” unsuitable and potentially violated fire safety regulations.
Amid angry booing from the public, presiding judge Georgia Stefanidou said: “The court is adjourned until April 1, owing to conditions that could cause fainting.”
The hall was so stifling that two lawyers formally complained to the fire department and demanded an immediate inspection.
Maria Karystianou, from the association of victims’ families, told reporters that relatives had been “packed like sardines”.
She said it was “an absolute disgrace”, noting that she and accident survivors had had to sit in the seats of the accused.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis insisted that the venue chosen, a remodelled university lecture hall in the central city of Larissa, was one of the two biggest courtrooms in Greece.
Marinakis told reporters that the hall had seating for over 460 people and blamed the issue on a higher-than-expected number of observers.
Thirty-six people face charges and over 350 witnesses are due to be heard at the trial.
It is being conducted around 30 kilometres from the spot near Tempi, central Greece, where a freight train and a passenger train smashed into each other on February 28, 2023.
Among those to testify are survivors and family members of the victims, some of whom are believed to have burned to death after surviving the initial collision.
Most of the dead were students returning from a carnival weekend.
‘Burned alive’
Karystianou, a paediatrician who led the association of victims’ families for several years and now plans to launch a political party, said no investigation was carried out into how her daughter “burned alive”.
The accused include the station master on duty on the night of the accident, other railway officials and two Italian former employees of the trains’ parent company, Ferrovie dello Stato.
The two trains had run on the same track for more than 10 minutes without triggering an alarm.
The head-on collision exposed the parlous state of safety precautions in Greece’s railway network – despite European Union grants for their modernisation and repeated warnings from unions.
“This trial clearly demonstrates all the corruption of the Greek state, the corruption that killed our children,” Christos Vlahos, the parent of one victim, said outside court.
The trial is expected to last several years.
Thirty-three of the defendants face criminal charges and risk up to life in prison.
None of the accused are currently in jail, although some have served time in pre-trial detention.
The head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Laura Kovesi, said the collision could have been avoided if the signalling system had been modernised in time using EU funds.
Train workers staged a 24-hour strike on Monday, which their union called “an act of collective remembrance (and) protest”.
‘Blatant cover-up’
The accident – commonly known as the “Tempi crime” – sparked widespread anger that has never subsided.
Tens of thousands of people protested nationwide to mark the accident’s third anniversary last month.
The accused include the duty station master, Vassilios Samaras, as well as two station masters who left their posts before the end of their shift.
Managers and employees of rail network operator Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) are also on trial, alongside two senior transport ministry officials and two Italian executives from Hellenic Train, a subsidiary of the Italian state’s Ferrovie dello Stato.
No political official will be in the dock.
This has fuelled resentment of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s conservative government, whose handling of the disaster is widely seen as disastrous.
Valuable evidence was lost when, just days after the collision, a bulldozer levelled the site.
Communist party leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas told reporters on Monday the investigation into the crash had been closed “hurriedly”, leaving “huge gaps” in the case.
He called it a “blatant cover-up”.
Two former ministers, including ex-transport minister Kostas Karamanlis were referred to justice by parliament but face only misdemeanour charges at present.
“There are people who should be here as defendants, such as Kostas Karamanlis, who killed our people,” Pavlos Aslanidis, whose 26-year-old son died, told reporters before the trial.
Despite the disaster, Mitsotakis comfortably won re-election just months later and went on to defeat two parliamentary votes of no-confidence on the issue.
(sma) - Euractiv/AFP Mar 24, 2026
Tempi Trial Starts After Three Years of Anger and Unanswered Questions
Larissa, Greece — Three years after the deadliest train crash in Greek history, which claimed the lives of 57 people, the long-awaited trial against those responsible began. Court proceedings were halted following their start after a horrid day of technical failures and adjourned to April 1.
The Tempi trial is expected to be one of the most significant trials
in post-dictatorship Greece, as the victims’ families seek justice and
political accountability. Their criticism has repeatedly sparked mass
protests across the country over the past years, as Unicorn Riot has consistently reported. On February 28, 2025, more than one million people demonstrated nationwide in what became the largest protest in Greece since World War II.
The case concerns a head-on collision between an intercity passenger train and a cargo train on the Athens–Thessaloniki line. The two trains were traveling on the same track for 12 minutes at speeds of 140 km/h and 100 km/h, respectively. Government officials initially attributed the disaster to a “human error.” However, it was soon revealed that along much of the Athens–Thessaloniki route, light signaling, remote management, traffic control, and communication systems were not operational, functioning only on a limited section of the line.
As a result, train engineers relied on radio communication with the
stationmaster to move between stations. The railway workers’ union had
previously warned about the poor state of the infrastructure. In the
aftermath, Greece’s minister of infrastructure and transport, Kostas
Karamanlis, resigned amid public pressure, and the railway line remained
closed for several months following the crash.
The train crash
tragedy, which the victims’ families describe as a crime, has evolved
into a fierce political conflict, marked by allegations of a cover-up
and accusations against the highest levels of government. Among those
criticized is Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has been accused
of attempting to conceal aspects of the case, mishandling the crisis,
and failing to respond adequately to the victims’ demands for further
investigations.
Failed Start – Trial Adjourned to April 1
The big trial was set to start on Monday, March 23 in Larissa, the regional capital of Thessaly, which is where the stationmasters were responsible for coordinating the trains on the deadly night of February 28, 2023.
The location was criticized for being far away from the homes of the relatives whose request that it be moved either to Athens or Thessaloniki was rejected by the Supreme Court of Greece.
A conference center in the University of Thessaly was transformed into a courthouse specifically for this case. The justice ministry has claimed this to be the largest court room in Greece with around 450 seats. More than 1 million Euro are said to be invested for the transformation of the building.
For the trial that is estimated to last at least two years, 36 people are charged, around 250 lawyers are involved, and the files comprise around 60,000 pages.
Under the presence of large police forces, relatives of the deceased and survivors of the train crash arrived at the courthouse with the support of hundreds of protesters who came in buses from around Greece.
The day was marred with issues. Relatives and their lawyers criticized the lack of room and technical failures. Many relatives were forced to sit on the defendant’s dock and lawyers had no proper working desks. The microphones were not working and lights were flickering.
The presiding judge asked members of the media to leave the courtroom, citing legislation that prohibits the recording of image and sound inside courtrooms. Journalists refused to leave the room.
Zoe Konstantopoulou, lawyer for Panos Ruci who lost his son Dennis Ruci in the train crash, raised the issue of ensuring public transparency, with the judge responding that the matter would be revisited once the formal procedures are completed, allowing everyone the opportunity to speak.
Parliamentarian
and lawyer Zoe Konstantopoulou walks with relatives and lawyers
arriving at the courthouse. Panos Ruci, father of Tempi victim Dennis
Ruci, is seen walking with a hat on next to Giannis Maggos, father of
Vassilis Maggos, who died after being brutally beaten by Greek police in
2020. Photo contributed by Estela Valasi.Maria Karystianou, mother of the victim Martha Karystianou, called out, “Why does publicity frighten you?”
“They crammed us into a single room — conditions are suffocating, unacceptable in every respect. Why did they do this? The venue must be changed immediately. The trial must proceed as it should. The truth must come to light,” said Eleni Vasara, the mother of victim Agapi Tsaklidou. “The mockery and government deception continue. Three years on, and the deception is still ongoing.”
During a pause, Panos Ruci spoke after exiting the courtroom. He described the extremely difficult conditions inside, stressing that the trial has essentially not even begun.
Visibly frustrated, he said that under the current setup, proceedings cannot properly start, as people are packed tightly together with no space.
Panos Ruci standing outside the courthouse. His son Dennis Ruci died in the Tempi train crash and he led a successful hunger strike to exhume his son’s body for an independent autopsy. Photo contributed by Estela Valasi.After five hours marked by tension, heated exchanges and many pauses, the judge Georgia Stefanidou adjourned the trial to April 1 and promised to take measures for better conditions.
The Association of Relatives of the Tempi Victims, along with student unions, political organizations, and various collectives, called for a gathering to show solidarity for the victims and demand accountability from the courts.
Demonstrators created a powerful tribute to the victims outside the courthouse by painting the names of the Tempi victims on the ground using the same red color that has become a symbol of the movement for justice.
Activists write the names of Tempi victims in red paint outside the courthouse. Photo contributed by Estela Valasi.A large police presence was visible outside the courthouse with police in riot gear holding shields amid lines of police busses.
“They brought in ten riot police vans from the early hours of the morning,” said Giannis Skokas, President of the Larissa Labor Center. “This is their idea of ensuring the smooth conduct of the trial. We will continue to stand by the victims’ families until the very end, so that justice is served.”
Massive police presence to secure the courthouse from protests. Photo contributed by Estela Valasi.Estela Valasi, a photoreporter who was on site for Unicorn Riot, described the scene and their feelings with the following words: “Long hours of hardship and intense emotional strain for the families of the victims. Inadequate courtroom conditions and numerous interruptions of the proceedings. A large crowd of supporters from all over Greece, with banners and chants. An overwhelming police presence and riot police vehicles everywhere.
The slightly cloudy Monday carried all the grief and determination for justice felt by the relatives of the Tempi victims and survivors. Three years after the crime, the state apparatus remains unprepared to function with respect. I feel numb and admire the struggle they are waging against this shameful indifference.”
The Case File and Indictment
Last September, 80 relatives of the victims, accompanied by their lawyers, went to the prosecutor’s office of the Supreme Court of Greece to submit a memorandum requesting additional investigative actions.
According to their complaints, the initial investigation had been closed hastily by the appellate investigating judge, while the proposal of the Larissa prosecutor was issued through fast-track procedures without key evidence being examined.
Not part of the case files was the question of the explosion that triggered a fire, which according to the relatives and independent research resulted in more deaths. Independent investigations found traces of highly inflammable xylene and the relatives asked for an investigation of the contents of the cargo train. Safety regulations would be violated if it transported xylene.
The memorandum failed and the trial began with important individuals and companies either excluded from responsibility or facing lesser charges.
“This trial is starting late, and important defendants are missing, such as Karamanlis. There are no charges against Hellenic Train, and there are no charges regarding the children who were burned in the explosion” said Pavlos Aslanidis, the president of the Association of Victims’ Relatives of the Tempi disaster, as he made the rounds on Greek TV.
Among the 36 defendants are 11 executives from the Hellenic Railways
Organization, or OSE, 16 from its subsidiary ERGOSE, the CEO and the
technical director of Hellenic Train, the General Director of Transport
at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the head of the
directorate of rail transport, the former president of the regulatory
authority for railways (RAS), a 60-year-old station master on duty the
night of February 28, and two station masters from the afternoon shift
at Larissa Railway Station.
Of those charged, 33 face the felony
of endangering transport safety, an offense that can carry a sentence of
life imprisonment, along with a number of misdemeanor charges.
In contrast, the executives of Hellenic Train are being prosecuted only for misdemeanor offenses, despite evidence of responsibility both for the transport of hazardous materials and for fire safety in the trains, specifically regarding seats in the carriages where charred bodies were found.
Due to the complexities of the case, the judges will have a challenge navigating the complicated chain of responsibilities, stretching from operational errors up to systematic and administrative failures of the railway system which has been in crisis for years.
Since 2005, OSE has undergone an extensive privatization process. The
organization is responsible for managing the railway infrastructure,
while ERGOSE handles construction and modernization projects. Hellenic
Train operates the train services, renting access to the network from
OSE, and is a private company owned by the Italian state railway group
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. The RAS is formally independent and is
tasked with overseeing whether companies comply with regulations,
granting operating licenses, supervising safety, ensuring fair
competition in access to the network, and imposing sanctions or fines
when necessary.
A recent investigation published by Solomon, Reporters United and the Forensic Architecture Initiative Athens grouped the defendants into five categories:
1. Larissa station operators, which includes the station master working Feb. 28, 2023. The accusations range from mishandling the train control to inadequate staffing. The station master claims that because of his heavy workload and outdated communication system he failed to inform the driver of the inter-city train.
2. The OSE management, including ex-CEOs and board members. They are accused of mismanagement and failure to oversee the update of communication channels, safety systems and remote control, as well as having placed inexperienced station masters into critical positions. The OSE officials shift their responsibility to other organizations and the ministry of infrastructure and transport.
3. ERGOSE officials who were responsible to put into practice the contract 717 (modernization of signalling and security infrastructure). They are being accused of failing to coordinate the success of contracts to install signaling and remote control. The consortium of companies got successive extensions without finishing their contract or being penalized.
4. Two officials from the Transport Ministry and one official of the control agency RAS are charged for the lack of legislative measures and proper supervision of the Greek railway system. The defendants argue that the ministry has no direct intervention power into the operation of OSE and ERGOSE, which function in autonomy. Ioanna Tsiparikou, the accused RAS official, states that the ministry did not do enough to control the situation.
5. Two officials from Hellenic Train are being charged for failure to install the GSM-R radio system on the trains. GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) is a digital radio system functioning like a mobile network for trains which enables secure communication between train drivers, control centers, and signal operators, as well as the transmission of crucial data for control systems. It ensures fast and reliable information exchange, especially in emergency situations.
As the criminal trial is set to start on April 1, an administrative court granted a Tempi victim’s family €400,000 in damages while for the first time recognizing the Greek state’s responsibility in the deadly disaster.
Unicorn Riot will follow the trial and provide crucial developments along the way.
Cover photo contributed by Estela Valasi. - Unicorn Riot, 31/3/2026
Minister Wee: Overlooked SOPs led to Kelana Jaya LRT collision
According to the findings from the report, the empty ‘timed-out’ Train 40 experienced technical difficulties
by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by BERNAMA
OVERLOOKING critical standard operating procedures (SOPs) has led to the Kelana Jaya light rail transit (LRT) collision on May 24, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said.
According to the findings from the report compiled by the Investigation Committee, the empty “timed-out” Train 40 experienced technical difficulties and the vehicle on-board communication (VOBC) system was halted on one of two of its VOBC systems at 6.26pm.
The standby VOBC then kicked in and in line with proper safety procedure, Train 40 then vacated passengers and remotely brought to the Lembah Subang depot via automated train operation (ATO) mode for the necessary maintenance.
However, at 8.13pm, the second VOBC on Train 40 halted and lost communication (time-out) with the Operations Controlled Centre (OCC) while en route to Lembah Subang depot.
As a failsafe system, when a train experiences time-out, it will come to a complete stop. Train 40 stopped between KLCC and Kampung Baru LRT stations.
During this time-out, the OCC was unable to detect and remotely control Train 40. A hostler (train driver) was then called to manually reset both VOBCs and drive Train 40 to the ‘re-enter’ point near Dang Wangi LRT station (after Kampung Baru station), in an attempt to return operation of Train 40 to ATO mode.
It was during the process of resetting both VOBCs and driving the Train 40 manually to the re-entry point, both the hostler and OCC’s train controller had over looked and missed critical procedures.
This inadvertently resulted in Train 40 being manually moved towards KLCC station instead of south-bound towards the designated re-entry point at Dang Wangi station.
At the same time, Train 81, with passengers on board and on the same track, was held back at KLCC LRT station and a protective manual route reservation (MRR) was implemented while Train 40’s situation was being resolved.
However, the MRR was lifted and Train 81 prematurely made to depart KLCC station towards Kampung Baru station without the proper verification that Train 40 had been safely reset and re-entered into ATO mode. This led to the collision between Train 40 and Train 81.
Investigation committee chairman Datuk Isham Ishak (picture) said from the findings, the committee found the maintenance conducted by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is in order and according to the manual that they have already established.
“In terms of maintenance of the trains, we do not see any discrepancy or any anomaly. The trains are all well-kept and in order. It’s just that the SOPs were not followed thoroughly,” he said.
He also clarified that VOBC’s failure seldom happens but when it does, there must be a SOP where everyone must understand and follow.
Wee said the government views this incident seriously and has directed Ministry of Transport to strictly ensure that every effort is taken to review and revamp safety procedures and operating guidelines in Prasarana and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd’s rail services and asset maintenance.
The Cabinet has accepted the Investigation Committee’s 23 recommendations for improvements which Prasarana and Rapid Rail should implement to achieve these systemic improvements expeditiously.
The recommendations consist of five short-term changes, 11 medium-term changes and seven long-term changes that would take more than six months to implement.
MEDIA RELEASE
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT MALAYSIA
24 MAY 2021
KELANA JAYA LRT COLLISION: MOT REPORT SUBMITTED TO CABINET WITH 23 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENTS
The Ministry of Transport has presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday, 9 June 2021, its report compiled by the Investigation Committee to examine the tragic accident which occurred on 24 May 2021 between the Kampung Baru and KLCC Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations on the Kelana Jaya line.
The Government views this incident seriously and has directed the Ministry to strictly ensure that every effort is taken to review and revamp safety procedures and operating guidelines in Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd’s rail services and asset maintenance.
The Cabinet Meeting on 9 June 2021 has accepted the Investigation Committee’s 23 recommendations to achieve these systemic improvements expeditiously and the Ministry will audit the progress of these improvements periodically.
The overarching goals of the Committee’s findings are to identify any gaps and to recommend systemic improvements to both Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, and its services. Particular attention was given to ensure that the entire rail service industry and infrastructure management keep public safety as a paramount concern. This report is not for the purpose of apportioning blame nor liability on any party.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
The Committee’s findings have culminated in an analysis of factors that led to the collision, and from this analysis, there are 23 distinct recommendations for improvements which Prasarana Malaysian Bhd and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd should implement. There are 5 short term changes, 11 medium term changes, and 7 long term changes that would take more than six months to implement.
SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENTS (within 3 months)
1. Post two hostlers (drivers), with one acting as Safety and Compliance Officer, during manual train operation within tunnels.
2. Upgrade work tools for hostlers in carrying out their duties in low visibility environments (i.e. LRT tunnels).
3. Improve checklists used by hostlers and operation control centres (OCC) during manual operation and in critical situations.
4. Set up a Sighting Committee to perform audits on track markers.
5. Report safety performance issues and improvements periodically to Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd senior management for review and monitoring.
MEDIUM TERM IMPROVEMENTS (within 3 to 6 months)
6. Perform technical evaluation on SOPs used for manual operation within tunnels and undertake periodic audits.
7. Perform technical evaluations on communication systems to determine improvements needed, and undertake periodic audits.
8. Improve SOPs used in OCC, and undertake periodic audits.
9. Review all SOPs governing operations during Normal, Degraded, and Critical situations.
10. Improve management accountability towards all SOPs, Emergency Response Plans and Safety procedures.
11. Improve communication plans for Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd SOPs to ensure they are understood by all levels of staff.
12. Review and revise operations rule book, OCC manuals, and hostler’s manual.
13. Perform Job Safety Analysis on all personnel in Safety Critical Positions for competencies and knowledge, and undertake periodic audits.
14. Improve SOPs for energisation and de-energisation of tracks during emergency or critical situations.
15. Perform technical evaluation and audit on all safety and emergency equipment.
16. Perform risk evaluation on communications equipment between hostler and OCC.
LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS (6 months or longer)
17. Improve refresher courses and re-certification for all hostlers and OCC personnel, to maintain their competencies.
18. Review risk profiles of stanchions within train vestibules.
19. Perform simulations on all existing and revised SOPs.
20. Perform Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) study on all Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd assets and systems.
21. Improve electronic train detection systems to ensure ‘time-out’ trains are detectable remotely.
22. Fortify Rail Enforcement Division of the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to regulate rail service and safety standards.
23. Install ‘hot button’ system to simplify OCC control over trains during critical situations.
FACTORS LEADING TO INCIDENT
In the report, the Cabinet has been informed of the sequence of events that led to the collision. Due to a combination of technical faults, communication between the hostler/driver and the operations control centre (OCC) in safely manning the empty ‘timed-out’ Train 40 and release of Train 81 were compromised prior to the incident.
Train 40 experienced technical difficulties and the Vehicle On-Board Communication (VOBC) system was halted on one of two of its VOBC systems at 6.26pm on 24 May 2021. The standby VOBC, as the standard redundant safety system of the LRT trains, then kicked in. In line with proper safety procedure, Train 40 was then vacated of passengers and remotely brought to the Lembah Subang depot via Automated Train Operation (ATO) mode for the necessary maintenance.
However, at 8.13pm, the second VOBC on Train 40 halted and lost communication (time-out) with the OCC while en route to Lembah Subang depot. As a failsafe system, when a train experiences time-out, it will come to a complete stop. Train 40 stopped between KLCC and Kampung Baru LRT stations.
During this time-out, the OCC was unable to detect and remotely control Train 40. A hostler was then called to manually reset both VOBCs and drive Train 40 to the ‘re-enter’ point near Dang Wangi LRT station (after Kampung Baru station), in an attempt to return operation of Train 40 to ATO mode.
During the process of resetting both VOBCs and driving the Train 40 manually to the re-enter point, both the hostler and OCC’s train controller had overlooked and missed critical procedures during this process. This inadvertently resulted in Train 40 being manually moved towards KLCC station instead of south-bound towards the designated re-entry point at Dang Wangi station.
At the same time, Train 81, with passengers on board and on the same track, was held back at KLCC LRT station and a protective Manual Route Reservation(MRR) was implemented while Train 40’s situation was being resolved.
However, the MRR was lifted and Train 81 was prematurely made to depart KLCC station towards Kampung Baru station without the proper verification that Train 40 had been safely reset and re-entered into ATO mode. This led to the collision between Train 40 and Train 81.
CONCLUSION
To reiterate, the findings of the Investigation Committee’s report aim to introduce systemic changes that will prevent similar future incidents and to repair confidence in the public transport services. It is not to apportion blame nor liability on any party.
The Government of Malaysia through the Ministry will continue to cooperate with Prasarana and all other public transport service providers to find ways to continuously improve safety and security for users and employees.
DATUK SERI IR. DR. WEE KA SIONG
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT MALAYSIA
10 JUNE 2021
-END-
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