C12/​1998R Haz­ardous sit­u­a­tion in rail traf­fic at Säkäniemi on July 3, 1998

03.07.1998

On Friday, 3 rd July 1998, a hazardous situation arose between Säkäniemi and Tohmajärvi traffic operating points, when a freight train and a train consisting of three locomotives, travelling in opposite directions found themselves travelling on the same single-track section of line. Both train drivers saw each other as meeting and managed to stop in time. No damage or injury occurred.

The hazardous situation arose as the remote control operator by mistake gave the three-locomotive train permission to leave Tikkala for Tohmajärvi immediately when a freight train travelling in the opposite direction had passed Tikkala. The operator should in fact have waited until another freight train following the first one would have passed Tikkala, as well. The incident occurred one hour before the ending of a long and busy shift of the remote control operator. Actually over his 10 h 10 min shift, the operator had had a lot of extra tasks linked with on-going track work, and he had had no time to take any regular breaks. This error by the remote control operator was also affected by the fact that in the new timetable there were also modifications in the running order of the trains.

In work tasks important from a safety point of view, overlong shifts should be prohibited and the employees must be ensured sufficiently long meal hours and rest hours permitting a relaxation from work. The shifts of the remote control operators in Joensuu have in fact failed to be organised accordingly.

Accident Investigation Board Finland recommends that in view of a prevention of corresponding incidents and possible accidents, the shifts of the remote control operators be arranged so as to ensure them adequate breaks. Furthermore particularly in very busy times, long shifts should be avoided.

Recommendation S115