Safety Investigation Authority

The derailing of tank container wagons on a main line caused a serious accident. Some wagons of a tank-container-carrying train which started to move on its own, derailed on Korttio marshalling yard at Riihimäki, on Sunday, October 27, 1996, at 19.16 hours. Eight of the wagons were empty petrol tank wagons and fourty-seven loaded wagons carrying liquid gas. The wagons passed through the rail barrier of a trap siding (i.e. the buffer stop). One of the wagons turned over and across the main line, blocking hence both tracks of the line. The derailed petrol wagons were severly damaged. Some track equipment was also damaged. The total damage corresponds to a value of about 1.100 FIM.

The accident was detected when the insulated track sections of the main lines in the southern part of Korttio marshalling yard, showed an occupied sign (i.e. they turned red in the interlocking control panel). Simultaneously an alarm signal was communicated concerning a power failure in the eastern track of the main line. The insulated track sections being occupied, the corresponding signal aspects displayed a red colour sign, which made the approaching fast train stop.

As a result of the accident, train traffic was interrupted over the night.

The accident was generated by an arrested shoe, ensuring immobility of the wagons, failing to be adequately in operation.

Download here the investigation report, pdf-file in Finnish, 338 kB

• Recommendation S50
• Recommendation S51
• Recommendation S52
• Recommendation S53

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