DAMMAM: The Saudi Railway Organization (SRO) said trains have resumed operating on the Riyadh-Hofuf route on Tuesday after services were suspended following Monday's accident in which five expatriate workers died.
Confirming the resumption of services, Abdul Aziz Al-Huqail, president of SRO, said, "The safety of passengers is the first and last concern of SRO." Two Hofuf-bound trains (No. 2 and No. 4) and two Riyadh-bound trains (No. 1 and No. 3) were canceled following the accident.
Al-Huqail thanked the Saudi Red Crescent, the Civil Defense, the police and everyone else who worked in rescue operations after the accident. He added that train services between Al-Ahsa, Abqaiq and Dammam were not affected by the accident and were operating as normal.
"SRO's safety record is excellent and far better than any other railway organizations in the Middle East and elsewhere ... a fact-finding committee of SRO officials has already started an investigation into the cause of the accident. Its findings and recommendations will be announced soon," he said.
The committee will also investigate the train's driver, supervisor and other parties, such as the works contractor who should have instructed the laborers to take safety precautions while working on the railway, said Al-Huqail.
The dead included four Nepalese and one Indian employed by Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Co. Another Nepalese worker who sustained multiple injuries was admitted to a nearby hospital.
The accident happened when the driver was shunting the train at a location about 25 km east of Riyadh, where the workers were re-laying railroad.
By FAIZ AL- MAZROUEI
© Arab News 2010
