C10/​1998R Haz­ardous sit­u­a­tion in rail traf­fic in Oulu, on May 21, 1998

21.05.1998

On May 21, 1998, Thursday, a freight train from Kontiomäki forced a turnout open at Oulu and thus generated a hazardous situation. Having been advised by the pointsman of the route being secured, the dispatcher gave the freight train permission to pass the main signal displaying a red ”stop” aspect, since a permissive aspect failed to be obtained in the signal. When approaching the first turnout immediately following the main signal, the cabin crew noticed its wrong position. In spite of emergency braking, the train forced the turnout open. Two locomotives and two wagons ran through the turnout before the train stopped. The two turnout-turning motors and the turnout tongue broke. The costs generated by the incident amounted to about FIM 150,000.

The forced opening of the V330 turnout was a result of the turnout failing to have been turned. As a result of the functional disturbances in the V361 turnout, the pointsman forgot to turn the V330 turnout and assumed that the route locking problems were exclusively caused by the functional disturbances in the V361 turnout.

In order to avoid similar hazardous situations and accidents in the future, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends that displays specifying the positions of the V330, V331 and V351 turnouts be incorporated in the dispatcher’s panel in Oulu.

Recommendation S99