Train derails in Manila

A northbound Philippine National Railways (PNR) train derailed yesterday morning near the Pandacan station in Paco, Manila.

Lito Nierva, PNR operations manager, said that no one was reported hurt after Train 302 derailed at around 7 a.m. several meters before reaching the Pandacan station.

The train’s wheels slightly tilted to its side but did not came off the tracks.

Nierva claimed that several steel nails were stolen from the railway tracks and the softening of the soil foundation due to recent heavy rains resulted in the derailment.

He said the train was traveling at moderate speed and did not stray away from the tracks after getting derailed.

He said the “pandrol clips” or steel nails that secure the railroad tracks in that area were stolen.

Nierva said the suspects are some residents in the shanties along the railroad tracks.

Aside from the missing pandrol clips, Nierva said that the soft ground under the railroad tracks caused by the recent heavy rains also contributed to the unstable track.

Nierva said that after an hour of repair work, PNR workers were able to fix the tracks and Train 302 was set in place and it resumed operations until it reached  the Tayuman station.

He said the PNR would check the condition of the railtracks in the Paco area to conduct possible repairs.