A 20‑ton coal wagon was found detached from a locomotive on the night of 2‑3 September on Katowice’s rail line 141, raising concerns of deliberate sabotage.
Incident Details
The wagon was detached during the night of 2–3 September on railway line 141 in Katowice Ligocie. A 20‑ton coal car, belonging to the ArcelorMittal servicing fleet, was found on the tracks. The train was traveling from Dąbrowa Górnicza mine in Szczygłowice.
According to “Rzeczpospolita”, the end‑of‑train signal was professionally transferred to the second‑to‑last car, making the train appear complete even though the coal car had been detached.
It Was Not an Accident
Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak announced that the railway commission had referred the case to special services and prosecutors.
He said, “It was certainly not an accident. The way these wagons were disassembled indicates that professionals were involved, not people testing something.” He assured that Poland is prepared for possible sabotage operations targeting critical infrastructure.
Great Danger to Rail Traffic
Deputy Minister of Internal and Administrative Affairs Maciej Duszczyk highlighted that freight traffic in Katowice is heavy, and leaving a coal car on the tracks could have caused a serious tragedy.
“All evidence indicates that the wagon was intentionally detached and left here. The likelihood of causing a rail disaster was high. We know such sabotage happens,” he emphasized.
Investigation Ongoing
The case is being handled by the Katowice West District Prosecutor’s Office and the Criminal Division of the Katowice Provincial Police Command.
“There is, to date, no information that would allow us to classify the incident as an act of sabotage,” said the minister’s special services coordinator, Jacek Dobrzyński.
ArcelorMittal Conducting Its Own Investigation
In addition to state authorities, the case is also being investigated by ArcelorMittal, whose coal the train was carrying.
“We want a thorough explanation of the circumstances of this incident and to apprehend the culprit,” said Marzena Rogoźnik from the company’s communication office.
