Illustratory image. A locomotive moved spontaneously in Spišská Nová Ves, eastern Slovakia. (source: TASR)
On Saturday evening in Spišská Nová Ves, eastern Slovakia, a locomotive moved spontaneously, passing 17 kilometres before being stopped. No one was harmed and no collision occurred.
However, the incident caused delays of several trains. Transport on the Spišská Nová Ves - Markušovce - Spišské Vlachy section was interrupted from 19:23 to 20:30, then it was partially restored.
According to the state-owned ŽSR railway company, the locomotive belonged to the freight carrier LRL-Lokorail and its operator probably did not secure it.
During its 17-kilometre run, it damaged a turnout in the direction of Markušovce. The damage is subject to investigation.
To stop the locomotive, train stops were placed in Markušovce, but to no avail. Additional train stops were placed further down the tracks in the direction of Spišské Vlachy, where the locomotive finally stopped.
ŽSR spokesperson Vladimíra Bahýlová said that the locomotive could have reached a speed of 60 kilometres per hour.
