Spain: Rail chiefs quizzed over safety after derailment

• Spain’s rail chief testify before lawmakers on railroad safety


• 38 people remain in hospital two weeks after a train derailed in northwestern Spain


• Investigations continue into the cause of the deadly crash near Santiago de Compostela

Madrid (CNN) — Spanish rail chiefs are testifying on safety before lawmakers Thursday, two weeks after 70 people died and scores were injured in a horrific derailment in northwestern Spain.

Gonzalo Ferre Molto, president of state-owned rail infrastructure company Adif, and Julio Gomez-Pomar, president of state railroad company Renfe, are expected to detail what steps are being taken to improve future rail safety.

As of Thursday, 38 people remain in the hospital, six of them — all adults — in critical condition. No nationalities were given for those still hospitalized.

The July 24 derailment near the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela shocked the nation.

Investigations into the cause of the accident continue.

Authorities have charged the train’s driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, with 79 counts of homicide by professional recklessness and an undetermined number of counts of causing injury by professional recklessness.

Court officials have said the train was traveling at 153 kph (95 mph) when it derailed, nearly twice the speed limit on the curve where the accident happened.

Minutes before the derailment, Garzon received a call on his work phone, apparently receiving instructions on the way to Ferrol from a Renfe staff member, a court in Galicia said last month.

The train was nearing the end of a six-hour trip between Madrid and Ferrol at the time of the accident.

CNN’s Laura Perez Maestro reported from Madrid and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London.

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Spain: Rail chiefs quizzed over safety after derailment