Rail traffic to Italy crippled by fatal accident
A fatal accident between two trains on the Swiss-Italian border has blocked the main rail axis between the two countries.
Swiss Railways spokesman Ruedi Estermann said the track between Como in Italy and Chiasso in Switzerland would remain closed for several days.
Travellers are being offered an alternative bus service linking Como and Mendrisio in Switzerland.
A key alternative route, between Bellinzona and Luino in Italy, has also been closed, following a rockslide on the Italian side.
Estermann said the Chiasso accident occurred late Thursday night when an Italian goods train hit a shunting engine and derailed. The freight wagons then careered into a building.
Both Italian train drivers were killed and several railway workers injured in the incident.
Estermann said international trains on the Chiasso line would get no further than the border.
Police said they were investigating the cause of the crash.
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