Four railway workers die after being struck by limited-express train in Tochigi

Four railway workers died on Thursday after being struck by a limited-express train at a Tobu Nikko Line station in the city of Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, Tobu Railway said the same day.

Authorities received an emergency call at around 10:45 a.m. saying that workers had been hit by a train. Four men in their 50s to 60s were taken to hospital and were confirmed dead, according to the transport ministry.

The railway company said the Spacia X2, a six-car limited-express train from Tobu Nikko Station bound for Tobu Asakusa Station in Tokyo, hit the workers, who were weeding on railroad tracks at Shin-Kanuma Station.

A total of seven workers, including the four hit by the train, had been performing the work, the company said.

None of the around 50 passengers on the train were injured, Tobu Railway said.

Train services were temporarily suspended between Shin-Tochigi and Shimo-Imaichi stations due to the accident as of Thursday afternoon, the company said.