Replacement of buffer stops

In railway yards, old buffer stops are of little relevance in stopping wagons. In addition, the transport of dangerous goods in wagons built according to varying standards sets a wide range of requirements for buffer stops. In risk analyses, overshootings have been identified as a potential cause of accidents. Because there has been no change in shunting supervision practices, structural accident prevention should be made more effective, particularly in railway yards where dangerous goods are being handled. To improve the safety of railway yards in which dangerous goods are being transported, the Safety Investigation Authority recommends that:

Infrastructure managers should modernise buffer stops on tracks where shunting work is done related to the transport of dangerous goods.

The Finnish Transport Agency should share its knowledge with other infrastructure managers, to
support their renewal of buffer stops.

In railway yards, old buffer stops are of little relevance in stopping wagons. In addition, the transport of dangerous goods in wagons built according to varying standards sets a wide range of requirements for buffer stops. In risk analyses, overshootings have been identified as a potential cause of accidents. Because there has been no change in shunting supervision practices, structural accident prevention should be made more effective, particularly in railway yards where dangerous goods are being handled. To improve the safety of railway yards in which dangerous goods are being transported, the Safety Investigation Authority recommends that: