Spanish train driver ‘on phone’ at time of crash

The driver of the train that derailed in northern Spain last week, killing 79 people, was talking on the phone at the time of the crash, a court heard today.

Analysis of the train's data recording device indicated Francisco Garzon was speaking to train operator Renfe when the train left the tracks.

The initial reading of the so-called black box, released by the court investigating the case, also showed the train was travelling at 192 km/h in the minutes before it derailed in a curve where speed is limited at 80km/h.

The eight-carriage train had slowed to 153km/h at the time of the crash after a brake was activated seconds before, the black box showed.

Mr Garzon, 52, was freed from police custody on Sunday pending trial on charges of negligent homicide.

Reuters