Tobu Railway Co. confirmed Friday that an express train struck and killed four workers who were clearing weeds on the tracks Thursday, at a time when the train was entering the station at 50 km/h. The accident occurred on a line operated by Tobu, raising public concerns about labor safety and train operation procedures.
According to initial information, the group of workers was performing the task of removing weeds from the track area when they were hit by the approaching express train. Four people died at the scene. Tobu Railway said it is working closely with police and transport investigators to determine the cause, including why the train failed to detect or slow down in time to avoid the collision.
The accident site has been cordoned off for inspection and evidence collection. Railway safety experts said that a speed of 50 km/h, while not extremely high, is still enough to cause severe consequences if pedestrians cannot avoid it in time. A Tobu Railway representative expressed deep condolences to the victims' families and pledged to release the results of an internal investigation as soon as possible.
The incident raises questions about the warning procedures for workers on the tracks, as well as compliance with safety signals between dispatchers and work crews. Police are examining the responsibility of each party involved, while Tobu has announced a temporary suspension of similar track inspection activities to review all safety procedures.
