Osieck rail crash

Osieck rail crash (Polish: Katastrofa kolejowa w Osiecku) was a major railway accident which occurred at 3:45 p.m. on 4 June 1981 near Osieck railway station in central Poland. As a result of collision between passengers and freight trains, 25 people died and 8 survivors were injured.

Osieck rail crash
Details
Date	4 June 1981 c. 3:45 pm
Location	near Osieck railway station
Country	Poland
Operator	Polish State Railways
Cause	Signal passed at danger
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	25
Injured	8

Accident

The crash occurred on a single stretch of line because of maintenance track works was being carried out on a second track.

Direct cause of the accident was passed signal and danger by engineer of Skierniewice to Łuków passenger train consisting of EN57 electric multiple unit and left Osieck station without authority. EN57, travelling at 30 mph (50 km/h) collided head-on with double-headed ironstone-transporting freight train approached from Pilawa hauled by ET41 series electric locomotive. The first coach of EN57 was completely destroyed by force of the collision.

Sources

• J. Reszka, "Cześć, giniemy! Największe katastrofy w powojennej Polsce", wyd. PAP, 2001