Accordingly, railway companies across thecountry will install two cameras before and after level-crossing barriers.Surveillance monitoring centres will be based in the offices of the companies.
Late last month, Vu Quang Khoi, head of theRailway Department under the Transport Ministry, and an inspection group foundrailway staff to be in violation of working regulations while performingunannounced visits to stations and level crossings along the routes of Hanoi- HaiPhong, Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi -HCM City and Bac Hong-Van Dien.
During their visits, guards at level-crossingbarriers were found drinking alcohol and oversleeping during work hours.
In some cases, inexperienced interns wereassigned to work as barrier keepers at level-crossings.
Street vendors were found around the boothsof barrier keepers, which affected their work as well as traffic safety.
The Railway Department then asked VietnamRailways to strengthen inspections and punish violators to improve railwaytraffic safety, Khoi said.
This is an urgent task for Vietnam’srailway sector as within the last month, five serious railway accidents werereported on the Hanoi -HCM City route, killing two people and injuring other 11ones.
Notably, three out of the five accidentswere caused by faults of railway staff.
After the accidents, Vietnam Railwayssuspended ten officers who were directly involved as well as disciplined 12 oftheir managers disciplined too.
Another incident just happened on Wednesdaymorning. A fire was detected on a carriage of a train at Hao Son Station incentral Phu Yen province.
The fire was allegedly caused by anelectrical short circuit in the passenger area. All the passengers in thecarriage were evacuated to safety and the fire was extinguished after about onehour.
A report from VNR showed that fromSeptember 16, 2017 to April 15, 2018, there were 199 rail accidents, killing 91people and injuring 122 others.-VNS/VNA