A 15-year-old boy died in a train accident at a level crossing on Wednesday.
The accident happened despite the fact that the Swedish Transport Administration was warned several years ago, but there is still no solution in sight.
– Maybe we should close this level crossing completely. It is the simplest solution, says Bengt Olsson, press spokesperson at the Swedish Transport Administration.
On Wednesday afternoon at around 4:20 p.m., the boy cycled across an unguarded railway crossing in Hackefors outside Linköping, adjacent to an industrial area.
The boy was hit by the train and taken to hospital – a few hours later he died.
The accident occurred at one of all 3,000 level crossings in Sweden.
– We don’t want this type of intersection, says Bengt Olsson at the Swedish Transport Administration.
– These are life-threatening places. We try to inform as thoroughly as we can. It places very high demands on those who intend to pass
Several investigations
After the accident, the police began a preliminary investigation regarding causing the death of another, as a matter of routine. No one is suspected of a crime. The Swedish Transport Administration has started an investigation into the facility itself.
– It’s never enough when an accident happens. We are conducting an investigation to see if we managed it properly or if something has happened at the site with the equipment that is there, says Bengt Olsson.
According to Olsson, maintenance was carried out at the level crossing in question about two weeks ago to improve visibility on site.
Despite the fact that the Swedish Transport Administration was warned about the dangerous crossing a year ago, the authority has not taken any major measures about it.
– Unfortunately, there are several that have a higher priority. The more that pass, the higher the priority.
Olsson explains that there are a number of intersections in Östergötland that it will soon be time to review. After the accident yesterday, Bengt Olsson believes that it may be time to prioritize the level crossing in Hackefors as well.
Urges caution
Dismantling them takes time and is costly. Between 70 and 100 level crossings are fixed per year, which costs around SEK 200 million annually.
Until that work is finished, the Swedish Transport Agency urges caution.
– It places very high demands on those who intend to pass. As long as we will have these unprotected, I wish people would take it very carefully and look carefully, says Bengt Olsson.