AMAGASAKI — 2005 · Major Tragedy
The Amagasaki Rail Crash — Speed on the Curve
On the morning of 25 April 2005 a seven-car JR West commuter train derailed on a sharp curve on the Fukuchiyama Line as it approached Amagasaki; its front two cars slammed into an apartment building. 107 people, including the driver, were killed and 562 injured. The train was travelling at about 116 km/h on a curve limited to 70 km/h. The investigation found that the driver was trying to make up for a delay and that the company's punitive 'retraining' regime for lateness created heavy pressure. Company executives were tried over the absence of an automatic train stop system on the curve, but the courts ruled the accident was not foreseeable and acquitted them. The crash remains central to debates on Japanese rail safety.
- Date
- 2005
- Place
- Hyōgo, Japan, Amagasaki, JP
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 34.7520, 135.4200 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 25 April 2005At 09:19 the train derailed on the curve and struck an apartment building.
- June 2007The accident investigation report highlighted excessive speed and the company's punitive retraining system.
- 2009JR West's former president was charged with professional negligence.
- 11 January 2012The court acquitted him, ruling the accident was not sufficiently foreseeable.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Amagasaki derailment en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Al Jazeera — Japan crash inquiry focuses on driver aljazeera.com ↗
- Fox News — Ex-bosses cleared in Japan's worst train crash in half century foxnews.com ↗
- Wikipedia
- Al Jazeera
- Fox News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.