France's SNCF railway has halted test runs on a new high-speed line to Strasbourg following a derailment that killed 11 people last weekend, delaying its likely entry into service, reports Reuters.
"Until we have a clearer picture, the trials are suspended," SNCF chief executive Guillaume Pepy told BFM television on Friday. "They will resume only once we're certain about exactly what happened."
The state-owned SNCF has said a total of 53 people were aboard the TGV, more than should have been taking part in a test run. The passengers included several children who were among the 42 people injured when the train plunged from a raised section of track into a field and a canal on Nov. 14.
Preliminary findings blamed excessive speed for the derailment, which occurred after the train entered a bend at 265 kilometers per hour (171 miles per hour) in breach of a 176 kph speed limit on that stretch, SNCF safety chief Christian Cochet said on Thursday.
Braking should have started "at least a kilometer earlier", he said.
The crash deals a setback to the rollout of high-speed rail lines that are a symbol of French pride and intended to help support economic growth beyond the capital. The new section extends a high-speed line already linking Paris with destinations in eastern France and Germany.