Express train hits and kills 4 workers at a railway station in Japan
[August 21, 2026]
By MARI YAMAGUCHI
TOKYO (AP)
— An express train entering a station in Japan hit and killed four
people who were doing weed control work on a railway track Thursday,
officials said.
The accident occurred at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, on the
Tobu Nikko Line, and involved the Tokyo-bound Spacia express train, the
Tochigi prefectural police said. |
This aerial photo shows, the Spacia X express train stopped after coming
into contact with four workers at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko
Line in Kanuma, north of Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Kyodo News via
AP) |
|
The four — three workers and a supervisor — were rushed to a
hospital but later pronounced dead, according to police and
train operator Tobu Railway Co.
Six other people at the site — two other workers, three on
lookout duty and an on-site supervisor — were safe, Tobu Railway
said. The group had been assigned to spray herbicide. About 50
passengers on the train were also uninjured.
Railway officials said it was unclear why the workers did not
leave the site when the train was approaching, or what the
lookout people were doing. They said they are cooperating with
authorities investigating the cause of the accident.
Those on lookout duty are supposed to warn fellow workers of an
approaching train and let them evacuate. They wave a flag to the
train, then its driver sounds the horn to signal awareness and
moves on with caution. Initial accounts from the workers
suggested possible miscommunication, but what exactly happened
Thursday before and during the accident was still under
investigation, Tobu officials said.
Fatal train accidents are rare in Japan, which has a reputation
for safe and punctual transportation.
Takao Suzuki, head of Tobu's railway business division,
apologized for the fatal accident. “We take this severe accident
seriously and we will ensure preventive measures and never let
this happen," he said.
Trains on the line were suspended for several hours, but
services resumed later Thursday, officials said.
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