The impressive safety record of the Nanjing Metro was shattered this morning, when a Line 1 train came off the tracks at Maigaoqiao Station. Pandemonium ensued, as commuters filled the station wondering why there were no trains running.
Pictures paint a thousand words. Reported by local media as an “equipment failure”, there can be little doubt as to what transpired, after aerial photography captured the unfolding chaos of a train derailed entering the station.
While confirmation has yet to be made, it is thought that it was one of the pair of trains which authorities run each day on every line to check for any irregularities, prior to any passengers travelling on board. Such explains the impeccable safety record of the Nanjing metro.
Having come off the track, the train then collided with the platform corner as it entered Maigoqiao station.
No casualties were reported.
In addition to dealing with the metro crash, authorities scrambled to put on alternative transport for the numbers of commuters that quickly began piling up at the station looking for their regular ride to work.
As a result, two bus services were put into operation, one from Maigaoqiao Station to Nanjing Railway Station for passengers wishing to take Line 1, and another from Maigaoqiao Station to Nanjing Foresty University / Xinzhuang Station for those looking for Line 3, reported Xinhua Daily at 08:43 this morning.
Also on account of this morning’s crash, the frequency of services on Line 1 was reduced, meaning passengers found themselves waiting longer than usual for a train. It has not yet been announced when normal metro operation will resume at either Maigaoqiao Station or Hongshan Zoo Station.
At this point in time, the cause of the metro crash remains unclear.
It is believed that today’s incident be the first ever derailment of a train on the Nanjing Metro system, ever since Line 1 was inaugurated on 3 September, 2005.
