Four workers died after being hit by a train in Japan

A limited express train crashed into four workers clearing weeds from the tracks at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, at about 10:46 local time. The rapid collision left three workers trapped beneath the train and one on the platform, leading to an immediate emergency response.

The Tobu Nikko Line, operated by a private railway company, has suspended all service following the accident. A passenger on the doomed train recalled hearing a “strange noise” before the vehicle stopped in an emergency.

The train involved was a limited express, the second-fastest category in Japan after the Shinkansen. Typically, crews stationed near tracks warn workers when a train approaches.

Although Japan’s sprawling rail network enjoys a strong safety record, fatalities due to train accidents remain rare. The investigation into this tragedy has just begun.

Limited express train in Japan – Reuters