A date of June 18 2002 has been announced for the start of the trial of 16 people charged over a train disaster at the Austrian ski resort of Kaprun.

Prosecutors will say the cause of the tunnel fire, which killed 155 skiers, was a faulty heater which had been illegally installed on the train. It ignited highly flammable hydraulic brake oil and automatic safety detectors designed to stop the train in an emergency then locked it in place.

The defendants are representatives from the train operators in Kaprun, the firm that installed the heater and Kaprun's authorities.

None have been identified but all are charged with causing a fire through negligence and endangering lives through negligence.

A special community building is being adapted to deal with large numbers expected to attend the hearings, including the accused and the large number of relatives of victims.

News of the court date comes as the Kaprun resort revealed the last ski season had been a huge success for its tourism despite the disaster.

Part of the success story is a new high-speed cable car which has been getting skiers to the top of slopes faster.

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