Train drivers across Poland launched a protest following a fatal level crossing accident, causing widespread delays and cancellations as they demand stronger railway safety measures.

Rail services across Poland were severely disrupted on Thursday after train drivers launched a nationwide protest in response to a fatal level crossing accident that occurred on September 9.

The protest was triggered by a collision between a passenger train and a truck at a level crossing, which left one person dead and 20 others injured.

As part of the industrial action, train drivers have been reducing their speed to just 20 kilometers per hour when passing through level crossings, saying the measure is intended to highlight safety concerns rather than halt rail traffic.

Leszek Mietek, president of the Trade Union of Polish Train Drivers, defended the action, saying, "It is better to have one day of delays than more people dying on Poland's railways."

The protest has significantly affected rail services across the country.

By 7:00 a.m. local time, only 70 percent of trains were operating on schedule, while 14 services had been canceled.

According to Poland's main long-distance rail operator, PKP Intercity, 47 of its 140 scheduled trains were running behind schedule by 6:45 a.m.

The company said cumulative delays had reached 1,225 minutes, with an average delay of 26 minutes per affected train.

The union said the protest was aimed at pressing the government to take concrete action to improve safety at level crossings and prevent similar accidents.

Union representatives called on authorities to adopt what they described as "concrete decisions and real action" to address longstanding safety concerns across the country's railway network.

The September 9 collision has renewed debate over railway safety in Poland, with unions arguing that stronger preventive measures are needed to reduce the risk of future accidents.(ILKHA)