B1 & B2/1996R Freight train derailing at Nokia, on 9 June and at Pieksämäki, on 10 June, 1996

During the summer of 1996, two goods trains carrying paper goods derailed on two consecutive days. In the Nokia railyard, three cars were derailed, spreading their cargo over the railyard. Near Pieksämäki, on the track between Siikamäki and Huutokoski, seven cars were derailed, and one of these cars overturned, spilling its cargo. In both accidents, not only were the cars and cargo damaged, but so was several hundred metres of track.

The total financial loss in the accident was 0,4 Million USD.

The track was being resurfaced at the site of both accidents. The crossties were being replaced, and the supporting bed of the track was being renewed. At the time of the accidents, the work on the support for the crossties was still in progress. In both cases, the trains continued for several hundred metres after the accident without the engineers having noticed what had happened.

The following were the principle reasons for the accidents:

• In Nokia, the work on resurfacing the track was completed, with the exception of the support for the crossties. Since the structure had not been supported at all, the tracks yielded unequally beneath the load.
• In Pieksämäki, the connection between the surfacing structure for the old and the new track had insufficient support, and gave way unequally. The difference in height was three times that which had been estimated in the work specification. As a result, the length of the transfer area was too short in comparison with the speed.

In both cases, the speed of the train was in accordance with regulations, although excessive in view of the support for the track. In fact, traffic was allowed on insufficient grounds.

The recommendations for preventing corresponding accidents in the future relate to the organisation of work, quality control, the speed of trains along sections where work is being carried out on the tracks, and the supervision of traffic.

In addition the board of inquiry recommends that methods be developed for indicating that a derailment has occurred and for supervisory measurements of tracks and work on tracks.

B1 Report (pdf, 0.85 Mt)

• Recommendation S35
• Recommendation S36
• Recommendation S37
• Recommendation S38
• Recommendation S39
• Recommendation S40
• Recommendation S41
• Recommendation S42