Safety Investigation Authority

Accidents and hazardous incidents investigated:

• Railway accident, which can be regarded as particularly serious (major accident) because of the associated fatalities or injuries, loss to the environment, property or assets, or the nature of the accident
• Serious railway accident as specified in Article 3 of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2004/49/EC (Railway Safety Directive)

- train collision causing at least one fatality, or five serious injuries, or significant loss to the rolling stock or the environment (in excess of EUR 2 million) -collision with another train - collision with an arranging locomotive -collision with an object or obstacle within the operation perimeter of the rolling stock

-  train derailment

- other accident in railway operation with similar consequences, which has an evident impact on railway safety (regulation of safety or safety management)

- cross-level accident involving a passenger car or a heavy motor vehicle

-fatality or injury caused by rolling stock at a station or railway yard (personnel, passengers), or in connection with a track maintenance operation (personnel)

- fire in rolling stock during journey between departure and destination stations (including stop over time at the departure, interim and destination stations), and arrangement operation at interim station-other accidents besides the above

and any similar accident in private or public railway operation

- metro accidents

- tram accidents

• Pursuant to the Safety Investigation Act, risk of a major accident as well as other accidents and hazardous incidents can also be investigated

Safety investigations are carried out to improve safety and prevent reoccurrence of accidents.

The purpose of railway accident and hazardous incident investigation is to prevent accidents. Hence, accident investigation and the investigation report are not intended to address any responsibility or liability for damage that may arise from the accident. Using the investigation report for a purpose other than enhancing safety should be avoided.

Applicable laws and regulations

Railway accident investigation is based on the Safety Investigation Act (525/2011). All investigations adhere to the provisions laid down in Chapter 5 of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (2004/49/EC).

The safety investigation reports comply with the established form of the Finnish Accident Investigation Board, and the investigation reports are disseminated in print either as separate publications or in the compilation publication "Railway Accident and Hazardous Incidents". Upon completion, investigation reports are also published on the website of the Finnish Accident Investigation Board. 

The purpose in the investigation is to improve general safety and prevent future accidents.

The reports are in pdf-format. To read the reports you need Adobe Reader.