C1/​2000R Tank wagon de­rail­ing on de­pot track in Tam­pere, on 16 Feb­ru­ary, 2000

16.02.2000

On Wednesday 16 February 2000, a tank wagon derailed in a level crossing on Tampere Depot yard. The front bogie of the wagon – as seen in its running direction – derailed. No damage to the rolling stock was discovered as a result of the incident; the wagon remained in an upright position with no leaks detected therein.

The incident was caused by the level crossing being covered by thick ice as a result of rain water having frozen thereon and road vehicles having travelled on the ice and packed it. The rails were in fact in the ice layer and the wheels of the wagon in question rose on the ice and thereby caused the derailment of the bogie.

In order to prevent corresponding incidents in the future, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends that the condition of the level crossing always be checked prior to the transfer of wagons to their unloading site.

Recommendation S152