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Train Derailment in Norway Kills and Injures Passengers
Tragic Incident on Rauma Line
### At least six people have died and more than 30 have been injured after a passenger train derailed in Norway on Sunday, January 4, 2023. The accident occurred on the Rauma Line, a popular tourist route between the cities of Åndalsnes and Dombås.
The train, operated by Vy, Norway's state-owned railway company, was carrying around 350 passengers when it derailed at around 7:40 am local time near the village of Åndalsnes. According to police, several carriages came off the tracks and overturned, leaving them scattered across the railway line.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. Passengers were evacuated from the wreckage and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation, but police have said that there is no indication of foul play.
Eyewitness Accounts and Official Statements
Eyewitnesses described the scene as "chaotic" and "terrifying." One passenger told reporters that he felt a sudden jolt and then the train started to shake violently. "I looked out the window and saw that we were derailing," he said. "It was like something out of a movie."
Vy has expressed its condolences to the victims and their families and has launched an internal investigation into the accident. The Norwegian Railway Accident Investigation Board has also begun an independent investigation.
The derailment has caused major disruption to rail services in the area, and replacement bus services are being operated between Åndalsnes and Dombås.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Concerns
The investigation into the cause of the derailment is likely to take several months. Experts will be examining the train's wreckage, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing data from the train's black box.
Safety concerns have been raised in the wake of the accident, with some experts calling for a review of the safety standards on Norway's railways. The Rauma Line is a popular tourist route, and the accident has raised questions about whether the line is adequately equipped to handle the high volume of traffic.
Vy has said that it is committed to safety and that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that similar accidents do not happen again. The company has announced that it will be carrying out a comprehensive safety review of its operations.