Łódź bus driver suspended after trapping passengers at railway crossing

The incident on Edwarda Street

On Thursday, 10 September 2026, at around 15:00, an MPK Łódź city bus operating route 58B entered a level crossing on Edwarda Street after warning signals turned red. As the vehicle crossed the tracks between Łódź Widzew and Łódź Marysin, the automatic boom gates began lowering, and one barrier struck the roof of the bus. Video recorded by passengers inside the crowded bus captured panic, shouting, and children crying as the vehicle remained halted in the danger zone. While the driver hesitated over whether to proceed or reverse, passengers urged the driver to open the doors and began evacuating directly next to the railway tracks. Bystanders and passengers outside helped lift the barrier by hand so the bus could clear the crossing before an approaching train arrived. The train driver slowed the locomotive, allowing the train to pass safely without any collision or injuries.

Operator response and driver suspension

Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne (MPK) in Łódź removed the driver from active service pending the outcome of an internal investigation. MPK spokesman Piotr Wasiak noted that the driver had accumulated over 30 years of professional experience with no prior disciplinary marks on record. A dedicated commission has been formed within the transport company to analyze the event alongside railway operator PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) and municipal police.

“The situation that occurred at the railway crossing on Edwarda Street is unacceptable. We have appointed a special team to clarify the details of this incident.”

Wasiak added that initial CCTV reviews indicated no direct physical harm occurred to the passengers, though the company immediately notified authorities.

Infrastructure guidelines and police investigation

PKP PLK published security camera footage of the incident, criticizing the driver's decision to stop inside the crossing area. The rail infrastructure manager pointed out that the passenger car following the bus had stopped far enough back to leave ample room for the bus to reverse off the tracks. PLK also reiterated that boom barriers are manufactured from lightweight wood or composite materials engineered to snap under vehicle impact during an emergency. Junior Aspirant Mateusz Piliński of the Łódź Provincial Police Headquarters stated that police learned of the occurrence on Friday, 11 September, after receiving the CCTV footage, as no emergency calls were placed on Thursday. Drivers who enter a level crossing against a red signal face a 2,000 PLN fine and 15 penalty points under the Polish traffic code, with potential court referral if classified as endangering traffic safety.

Broader safety context and resident reactions

The incident followed a fatal train crash in Sokolniki Suche a day earlier, which killed one person and led the government to announce stricter rail crossing regulations. In response to safety concerns after that collision, Polish train drivers conducted a nationwide 12-hour protest that ended at 12:00 on Friday, 11 September, during which drivers restricted train speeds to 20 kilometres per hour across all level crossings. Local residents in the Stoki neighbourhood offered varied perspectives on the Edwarda Street crossing. While daily commuters described seeing motorists accelerate to beat lowering barriers, local resident Wanda Ostrowska noted that the crossing has clear signage, automated barriers, and warning lights.