Comment by ThePowerOfFuet
13 days ago
No, that gap was created after the rail broke and the train derailed as a result.
The crack was in the weld, causing one side to sink and the wheel to hit the start of the next section of rail which was no longer welded to it, causing stress fractures to form in the rail which later caused that 40cm piece to break off.
Next to the weld, if we're being pedantic. The weld itself is stronger than regular rail, but the welding process weakens the rail right next to it.