Egypt rail crash workers charged

Eight Egyptian railway workers will go on trial over a train collision in October that killed 18 people, a judicial official has said.

The group, which includes two train conductors and three signalmen, will face charges of negligence and involuntary manslaughter.

The accident in al-Ayyat happened when a train ploughed into a second train that had stopped unexpectedly.

The Egyptian rail network has a long history of accidents.

Heavy lifting equipment had to be brought in to untangle the wreckage of the trains, 50km (31 miles) south of Cairo.

Officials said at least 50 people were also injured.

Reports suggest the first train had stopped after hitting an animal.

The deadliest train accident in Egypt's recent history also took place at al-Ayyat in 2002, when a fire killed more than 370 people dead.

No date has been set for the trial.