Iran Railways chief resigns over train crash

Tehran, Nov 27, IRNA - In an apology gesture over the tragic collision of two trains in Semnan which claimed the lives of 45 passengers, head of Iran's Railways has resigned. Vice Minister of Roads and Urban Development and the Managing Director of the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohsen Pour Seyyed Aghaie sumitted his letter of resignation on Sunday. In his letter, Pour Seyyed Aghaie expressed sympathy with the bereaved families of the train crash which happened on Nov 25, saying that wrong decisions caused the accident. He offered apology to the Iranian people, reiterating that the managing department of Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the accident. The resignation was accepted by the Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi. Trains destined from Tabriz-Mashad and Mashad-Semnan collided at Haftkhan Station between Shahroud and Damqan which led to death of some 45 passengers. 1378/IRNA