Report: 2 trains collide in northwestern Turkey; injuries reported

Report: 2 trains collide in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey — A passenger train crashed into another train in northwestern Turkey on Sunday, killing one of the engine drivers and injuring at least four other people, officials said.

The state run-Anatolia news agency said rescuers were working to remove some passengers trapped inside the wreck of one of the cars.

The Transportation Ministry said the accident occurred near the city of Bilecik, some 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Istanbul after one of the drivers failed to stop at a signal and rammed into the other train, which was stationary.

The injured included two rail personnel and at least two passengers.

The trains were traveling between Istanbul and the city of Eskisehir.

Turkey’s government has been working to improve the country’s rail system, which is beset by signaling malfunctions, ill-equipped trains, deteriorating tracks and a lack of barriers at level crossings.

In Turkey’s worst train accident in recent years, a newly inaugurated high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara derailed in 2004, killing 37 people and injuring 95 others.