More than 50 injured in Athens train crash

Athens, July 12: Fifty-three people were injured in ahead-on collision between a passenger train packed with commuters and acargo train in Athens today, police said.

Greek television showed that both trains had suffered extensive damage, with the drivers' cabins completely wrecked.

Police said the crowded passenger train was heading towardscentral Athens from the northern suburbs when the driver saw a goodstrain from the city of Corinth, south of Athens, approaching on thesame track.

''The reasons for the accident will be investigated immediately,'' the OSE rail company said in a statement.

Police said about half of those hurt had serious injuries. The rest would be released from hospital soon after treatment.

They said the driver had rushed down the train, shouting to passengers to prepare for an imminent crash.

Eyewitnesses at the site of the crash, in the working-classdistrict of Sepolia, told television they saw dazed passengersstumbling out of the train right after the collision.

'''Holy Mary', I shouted when I saw the two trains headingstraight into each-other and crashing,'' an elderly Athenian woman toldGreek television. ''I saw injured people coming out and then fireengines and ambulances started arriving.''

Reuters>