C22/1996R Hazardous Situation in Railway Traffic at Turenki Station, on November 27, 1996

At Turenki, located between Riihimäki and Hämeenlinna, the passing of a red "stop" signal generated a hazardous situation in railway traffic, on Wednesday, November 27, 1996. The situation occurred when a fast train and a service railcar with identic identification numbers were simultaneously under the control of the dispatcher of Hämeenlinna interlocking area. At Turenki station the driver of the service railcar failed to hear the call by the dispatcher, whereas the driver of a fast train approaching Turenki heard the call. In fact, he believed the call was meant for him, and he acted accordingly, i.e. he set off from a "stop" signal. Both the driver of the fast train and the dispatcher immediately noticed the error an the ensuing hazardous situation. Having passed the signal, the train stopped at a distance of 100 m. Its distance to a meeting fast train approaching on the same track was then 500 m, this meeting train having stopped.

As a result of the hazardous situation, the two fast trains were running slightly late.

C22/1996R Report (pdf, 0.15 Mt)

• Recommendation S54
• Recommendation S55
• Recommendation S56
• Recommendation S57