The trial related to the TGV East derailment in Eckwersheim, France on November 14, 2015, is currently taking place in the 31st chamber of the Paris criminal court. The accident resulted in the death of eleven individuals during a test run of the high-speed rail line. Despite the technical discussions involving terms like FVPT, TVM, AEF, and EAST, the core issue is that the TGV train failed to brake in time. Approaching a curve at 265 km/h instead of the required 176 km/h, the tragic event became unavoidable.
The key question in the trial is to determine who is at fault for the derailment. The court is tasked with understanding the events that transpired in the TGV’s cockpit that afternoon. The experts from the transport accident investigation office highlighted a misunderstanding in the braking strategy, which led to the accident. The trial, held on April 2 and 4, saw the testimony of two defendants, Francis L. and Denis T. Francis was in charge of giving the braking instructions as the “traction manager”, while Denis was the driver of the derailed train. Both are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and injuries and could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
During the trial, neither defendant clearly accepted responsibility for their actions. Francis L. implied that had the braking instructions he provided been followed, the accident could have been prevented. However, questions were raised about whether he had given clear instructions, supervised the braking properly, or approved the decision to move the braking point back by a kilometer. As a traction manager, Francis held the highest authority in the cockpit and acted as an intermediary between the test leader and the driver. The defense’s attempts to shift blame onto others involved in the testing process were met with skepticism from the court and the victims’ legal representatives.
The complexity of the technical discussions during the trial has not overshadowed the tragic loss of life caused by the accident. The court is focused on uncovering the sequence of events that led to the derailment and assigning responsibility accordingly. While the legal process continues to unfold, the memories of the eleven individuals who lost their lives in the TGV East derailment serve as a stark reminder of the need for stringent safety measures in high-speed rail operations. As the trial progresses, the court will have to navigate through the technical details to ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families affected by this devastating incident.
