Hostilities in eastern Ukraine lead to threefold rise in illegal interference in rail transport operation in 2014
Hostilities in eastern Ukraine lead to threefold rise in illegal interference in rail transport operation in 2014
Kyiv, January 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian railways in 2014 registered 842 cases of illegal interference in rail transport operation, more than three times up on 2013.
As the press service of the State Railway Administration of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia) reported, the rise in illegal interference is linked to hostilities and subversive acts by separatist militia, aimed at destroying transport infrastructure and destabilizing the situation in Ukraine.
Last year 144 reports on the placing of explosives at stations and other infrastructure facilities were recorded, as well as 25 reports on the placing of explosives in rolling stock, while 65 explosives were found in rolling stock and infrastructure facilities.
A total of 101 railway workers suffered from violence during hostilities.
The number of thefts and cases of rolling stock and infrastructure being damaged grew fourfold, which resulted 419 cases of trains being delayed by over 30 minutes, or rolling stock being separated from trains.
The number of cases of foreign objects being placed on tracks also increased – 41 cases.
Due to violation of traffic rules at Ukrzaliznytsia railway crossings a total of 68 accidents were recorded in 2014, with 19 people killed and 34 injured.
