11.   Roads were blocked around the protest, and rail traffic was paralyzed after Transportation Minister Traian Basescu ordered all trains diverted or canceled.

12.   A railway official earlier said a much worse tragedy was averted by diverting the train after the brakes failed.

13.   The authorities diverted several trains to adjoining states after tracks were waterlogged.

14.   The line remained closed several hours later and high-speed trains were diverted to conventional tracks on which they must run more slowly, the SNCF said.