VORONEZH, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - The number of people injured in a railway accident in western Russia has risen to 88 cases, the regional emergencies ministry said on Sunday.

"As a result of the accident, 88 people have applied for medical assistance. Eight of them were hospitalized while eighty people received outpatient medical aid," the emergencies ministry said.

The accident occurred at a railway platform near Tambov early on Saturday when a diesel locomotive smashed into a passenger train. The locomotive, intended to replace the passenger train's faulty locomotive, reportedly traveled at a higher speed than it was required due to a traffic controller's mistake.

It was earlier reported that 53 people had been injured in the accident.

No trains were held up as the result of the accident. The train's passengers were delivered to their destination point by auto transport, the ministry said.