Restricting running as a train on tracks that are not under technical centralised traffic control

Not to be implemented

Rail R

Accident

22.5.2017

2017-S28

Suosituksen perustelu

A safety risk is involved in the work done by switchmen to protect routes in railway yards without modern technical systems to protect the passage of trains. Route protection by the switchman is not verified in any way, which also constitutes a risk. The faulty procedure used by the switchman made it possible to protect the route of a train on an occupied track. Traffic implemented as shunting operations should be more controlled, in which case the engine driver would also have an obligation to keep a lookout. If, say, for financial reasons it is not possible to equip all railway yards with technical monitoring by centralised traffic control, the Safety Investigation Authority recommends that

Recommendation

The Finnish Transport Agency should restrict trains running on tracks that are not under technical centralised traffic control.

Suosituksen tarkennus

When applying for capacity, the railway company take the station-specific conditions into account and apply for capacity for shunting operations accordingly.
The Finnish Transport Agency should harmonise and provide instructions on traffic control methods in order to safeguard traffic in such a manner that the operating model would be the same regardless of the traffic controller.

Toimenpide-ehdotukset

A safety risk is involved in the work done by switchmen to protect routes in railway yards without modern technical systems to protect the passage of trains. Route protection by the switchman is not verified in any way, which also constitutes a risk. The faulty procedure used by the switchman made it possible to protect the route of a train on an occupied track. Traffic implemented as shunting operations should be more controlled, in which case the engine driver would also have an obligation to keep a lookout. If, say, for financial reasons it is not possible to equip all railway yards with technical monitoring by centralised traffic control, the Safety Investigation Authority recommends that