Head of Athens Railways, Nikos Chairetas, announced on Greek state television on Tuesday that a rail worker died in an accident with a maintenance trolley on the busy Athens Light Rail 1.

Chairetas said two other workers were injured, adding that the accident occurred when the brakes of the trolley, which was being used to carry out maintenance work, failed.

He said the vehicle sped uncontrollably for several kilometers, after which the technicians used another train on the same track to stop the trolley.

Chairetas said it resulted in a controlled but violent collision, as shown on state television. The victim reportedly jumped off the trolley shortly before this collision.

Authorities have launched an investigation, the state television report continued.

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The Athens Light Rail 1 is used by millions of residents and tourists and has been in poor condition.

Passengers have been protesting for years, demanding a fundamental modernization of the old railway line.