Italy bans GATX carriages

Italy's state railway today (Thurs) banned all train carriages owned by Vienna-based freight firm GATX as investigations into the huge crash in the north of the country on Sunday night continue, Austrian Times informed.
Eighteen people have now been confirmed dead and more than 50 seriously injured after the train carrying liquid gas derailed in the town of Viareggio shortly before midnight, engulfing nearby houses in flames.
State railway company "Ferrovie dello Stato" explained in a press release that there had been a fault with the GATX carriage which caused the disaster when it derailed.
They said  all GATX carriages would be stopped until the company could prove they had been maintained properly.
"A ban has been put on all carriages belonging to GATX operating on the Italian railway network," the company said.
"This ban will be in effect as long as GATX management provide certified information and clarifications on the maintenance of their carriages used for freight transport."
The containers were registered at GATX's European headquarters in Vienna but were being rented to carry the 30 cubic metre liquid gas containers by an as yet unknown company.
The 14-car train was travelling from the northern city of La Spezia to Pisa.
A total of 300 emergency workers were involved in the rescue operation on Monday.

Source: Transport Weekly