C2/​1998R Haz­ardous sit­u­a­tion in rail­way traf­fic in Oulu, on Feb­ru­ary 11, 1998

11.02.1998

On Wednesday, February 11, 1998, a hazardous situation was generated in Oulu by a freight train having passed a signal displaying a ”stop” aspect. A freight train arriving from Kontiomäki passed a main signal with a red ”stop” aspect in spite of its emergency braking, and continued travelling on the main track from Oulu to Kempele. Only a moment earlier, a fast train from Oulu had travelled on this main track. A collision of the freight train and the fast train was avoided just by five seconds. The freight train forced the turnout open, and as a result the two turn motors of the turnout broke down. Because of the broken turnout, rail services had to be operated via the freight yard until the afternoon the following day.

The hazardous situation and the forced opening of the turnout were a result of the engine driver failing to have started the braking at an earlier phase. The aspect of the distant signal had either escaped him or he had failed to react to it accordingly. He started braking only when seeing the ”stop” aspect in the main signal.

In order to prevent similar hazardous situations and eventual accidents, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends that a security turnout and track be built for the track running from Kontiomäki to Oulu before its joining with the main line track. The security track should be long enough to permit a train having started braking at the main signal, to come to a full stop before the rail barrier.

Recommendation S103