The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Electrical Engineers made a press statement in which they shared their initial findings within the scope of the technical examination conducted for the train accident in Ankara. The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, who was the main person responsible for the accident, and the General Director of TCDD called for the resignation.
The written statement from the Chamber of Electrical Engineers is as follows; “On December 13, 2018, at 06.36:9, 86 of our citizens lost their lives and XNUMX of our citizens were injured after the High Speed Train (YHT) that made the Ankara-Konya expedition collided with the guide train coming from the opposite direction in Ankara, Marşandiz. We express our condolences to the families of our citizens who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident.
From the first moment of the accident, our top union TMMOB and our chamber have been followed up by the delegations and the reasons of the accident have been studied. In the context of the technical report about the negligence that led to the accident, it was necessary to explain our first findings with the idea of informing the public correctly.
On the day of the accident, the rescue of the wounded and immediately after the prosecutor's investigation of the delegation to the scene of the accident because of the introduction of the series of negligence in later hours began to become even more apparent.
The YHT expedition, which departed from Ankara Station to Konya on 13 December at 06.30, collided head-on with the guide train that controlled the train lines throughout the night in Marşandiz locality. The fact that both trains were in motion increased the size of the losses in the disaster.
It is clear that the trains carrying YHT flights had to change the scissors and go on the other line while they were on the wrong line while they were on the way to the depot. The most important cause of this catastrophe is the lack of signaling in this line. According to the first examinations of our committee, the fact that the signaling system, which is the most basic component of the modern rail transportation systems, is opened to the transportation without completion, has invited this disaster. The communication of the mechanic and the personnel in charge of the control by radio / telephone has created areas open to human error in rail transportation.
According to the data of the United Transport Employees Union, only 12 kilometers of the 534 thousand 5 kilometers line in Turkey is signalized. The traffic in the remaining section is managed from the center by radio/telephone. Signaling must be completed urgently in order to ensure safe transportation on railways. In addition, after the completion of the wreck removal work on the line where the accident occurred, train services were restarted. The danger continues due to the line being opened before the signaling deficiency is corrected.
The 2017 audit report of the TCA of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications also clearly reveals the weakness experienced in the railways. According to the report, 2.8 times the cost of the Kars-Tbilisi Railway was paid, however, a significant part of the productions specified in the project could not be completed because the contract price was filled, and the electrification, signaling and telecommunication productions were never made, although they were included in the contract. Despite all these shortcomings, the Kars-Tbilisi Railway line was opened to trade.
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It has been clearly demonstrated that the statements made by the General Manager of TCDD regarding the Çorlu Train Disaster, which took place on July 8 and caused the death of 25 of our citizens, in the Parliamentary SEE Commission, are inconsistent with reality. In his statements, the General Manager stated that all high-speed train lines are monitored with cameras 24 hours a day and that the security is at the highest level. The General Manager, who did not provide information on signaling, talked about the investments made in infrastructure and maintenance operations. However, when the rail transportation systems in the world are examined carefully, it is seen that the most basic requirement and indispensable is the signaling system.
It is seen that during the 16-year rule of the AKP, especially during the election periods, it hastily put into operation its major projects, ignoring science and technique. The political power, which outsources public resources irresponsibly and at high prices, disregarded science and technique, put into operation the projects it embellished with election shows and endangered the safety of life and property of our citizens. As if this were not enough, investments that directly concern the daily lives of our citizens were cut. The budget of the Presidency of Religious Affairs was increased from 2019 billion liras to 7.7 billion liras in 12.5, quadrupling the budget of the investor ministries. In the budget, the budget of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology was reduced by 4 percent, and the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure was reduced by 56 percent.
The track record of the AKP government is swollen: Although it has been repeatedly declared that it is against the principles of urban transportation, it is filled with engineering errors, and it aims to win the profits and elections, not only the interests of the public, but also the interests of the public, in the projects where the requirements of engineering and science must be fulfilled. approaches lead to the loss of our citizens' lives.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure and the General Manager of TCDD, who were responsible for the accident on 13 December, should resign, and the infrastructure deficiencies required for the safe operation of railway services, especially signaling, should be completed urgently.
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