Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente says the government will consider additional passive safety measures for trains following the collision in Urda, Toledo. Any decision will depend on a technical study by experts, he told reporters.
The crash, which occurred on October 28 and killed at least 69 people, has renewed questions about passenger safety, including whether trains should have seat belts and enclosed luggage compartments. Puente said the government would ask experts whether operators should be required to provide closed storage areas to prevent bags from being thrown through carriages during sudden braking or a collision.
Large suitcases are currently stored in open racks at the ends of carriages, while smaller bags can be placed on overhead racks. Puente said the aim of enclosed compartments would be to stop luggage becoming a hazard in an impact.
He did not address whether trains should be required to install seat belts. The article notes that rail passengers experience different forces in a crash than car occupants, and that research has questioned the benefits of belts on trains. Instead, rail seats and tables are designed to absorb the impact of a passenger. The article also says studies have found no clear advantage to either two- or three-point seat belts, citing potential injuries, reduced seat impact absorption and more difficult passenger extraction.
Sources: Xataka.