Moscow transport staff to be reshuffled after subway crash inquiry - Liksutov
MOSCOW. July 15 (Interfax) - Staff reshuffles will be carried out in the Moscow transport sector once investigators make conclusions about the Moscow subway incident, said Maksim Liksutov, the head of the Moscow Department for Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure.
"Certainly, there will be staff reshuffles, but after the specific conclusions are made by competent law enforcement bodies," Liksutov told reporters on Tuesday.
Asked whether Liksutov himself was expected to resign, the head of the department said: "This is matter has been put off."
The department chief said there was an instruction to conduct emergency checks of the Moscow subway infrastructure.
"This work has already begun and will continue through the night so as to check once again all the key parts and units relating to traffic safety," he said.
Extra bus routes will remain in place until the subway train service fully resumes, he said.
In the past two years there have been similar cases in subway systems abroad, in particular, in Spain and in New York, he said.
Three train cars, including the head one, derailed during the morning rush hour on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line of the Moscow subway system, between the Slavyansky Boulevard and Park Pobedy stations. According to the latest reports, the incident killed 21 people and left 136 in hospital. Investigators assumed it was a man-made disaster, but ruled out a terrorist attack. On July 16 Moscow is observing a day of mourning.