Former Lithuanian Railways executive suggests sabotage likely behind recent train derailments

A series of unusual train derailments over the weekend has raised suspicions of possible external interference, according to Edvinas Kerza, the former business resilience director of Lietuvos geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG).

Speaking to LRT.lt, Kerza called the incidents “particularly strange,” noting that such accidents are rare due to the railway’s robust safety measures, including automated monitoring systems that continuously inspect tracks for defects. “It’s hard to imagine this happening without some kind of outside ‘assistance’—not just an oversight,” he said.

The first derailment occurred early on May 1 in Gudžiūnai station, Kėdainiai district, where several freight wagons carrying scrap metal detached from a 20–30 wagon train traveling from Radviliškis to Palemonas. The accident damaged two tracks on the 1,520 mm broad-gauge line, known as the “Russian gauge.”

Less than 24 hours later, on the evening of May 2, a locomotive and four freight wagons bound for Duisburg, Germany, derailed in Jiesia, Kaunas district, on the 1,435 mm standard-gauge line. The site, a complex junction where broad and standard gauges intersect, saw disruptions on both track types. Authorities described it as a “challenging node with many switches.”

Kerza dismissed infrastructure failure as a likely cause, citing the railway’s advanced sensor-based inspection systems and regular maintenance. “The weather was normal—no extreme cold that could warp tracks,” he noted. While he did not rule out technical malfunctions, such as a switch failing to operate correctly, he emphasized that human error was unlikely due to high automation levels. “Operators mostly serve as safeguards, monitoring for anomalies,” he explained.

The former executive acknowledged that accidents are more probable during maintenance work, recalling a 2024 incident in Lazdijai district where a tractor became stuck on the tracks and collided with a train. However, he stressed that the recent derailments—occurring on operational lines without ongoing repairs—defied typical patterns.

Lithuanian Railways has launched a special commission to investigate the freight wagon incidents. Kerza’s comments align with the company’s decision, though he clarified he was speaking in a personal capacity.