Rail Safety Investigation Report No 2010/06
Previous train-to-train collisions
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- South Dynon - 1986
- Ringwood - 1989
- Syndal - 1989
- Aircraft - 1998
- Holmesglen - 2000
- Analysis
Previous train-to-train collisionsOverviewThere have been several incidents linked to Automatic signals and the application of the ‘Stop and Proceed’ conditions associated with Section 3 Rule 1. Details of these incidents are outlined below. Barnawartha - 1982On 17 June 1982 an Up standard gauge freight train collided with rear of the Up Interstate passenger train Spirit of Progress after passing an automatic signal at Stop as permitted by Regulation 7416. At the time of the incident the passenger train was stationary due to a defective locomotive and there was heavy fog in the area. The driver and fireman operating the freight train were fatally injured, 20 passengers on the Spirit of Progress suffered injury with 12 requiring hospital treatment. As a result of this incident, radio communications between the network control centre and locomotive drivers and the locomotive driver and train guard were introduced on the Intrastate network. South Dynon - 1986On 8 October 1986 an Up freight train collided with the rear of another freight train which was stationary at a Home signal waiting entry into the South Dynon yards. The previous automatic signal was passed at Stop as permitted by Regulation 74. Visibility was restricted by track curvature. As a result of this incident, the automatic signal involved was converted to an uncontrolled Home signal. Ringwood - 1989On 16 October 1989, a suburban passenger train collided with the rear of another suburban train which was stationary at a Home signal at Ringwood. The driver had passed the previous automatic signal as permitted by Regulation 74. Twenty-one passengers were injured as a consequence of the collision. As a result of this incident the application of Regulation 74 was reinforced with train drivers. Syndal - 1989On 20 November 1989 a suburban passenger train collided with the rear of another suburban passenger train which was stationary at the Syndal Station platform. The driver had passed the previous automatic signal as permitted by Regulation 74. The collision resulted in injury to 75 persons. As a result of this incident the application of Regulation 74 was reinforced with train drivers. Aircraft - 1998On 27 July 1998 a suburban passenger train collided with the rear of a stationary freight train. Weather conditions at the time resulted in a limited viewing distance. Regulation 74 had been superseded by Section 3 Rule 1 in the Victorian Book of Rules and Operating Procedures 1994 (PTC). As a result of this incident the application of Section 3 Rule 1 was reinforced with train drivers. The Board of Inquiry into the Aircraft incident recommended that: ETMs should denote the rear vehicle of a train to the driver of a following train during darkness and especially during inclement weather. That a standard be developed for tail signals that allows viewing by the driver of a following train, as well as by signalling staff and others to ascertain a train is complete. That a study be undertaken to assess the viewability of tail lights currently in use on all trains during inclement weather. That a defined procedure for checking the viewability of ETMs and (if not already in place) other tail signals be adopted. That a survey of train signals be undertaken with a view to determining their effectiveness and what actions are required to enhance their viewability and what maintenance procedures are required to ensure the enhancement is maintained. Holmesglen - 2000On 26 July 2000 a suburban express passenger train collided with the rear of another suburban passenger train which was stationary at the Holmesglen Station platform because of a faulty door mechanism. The incident resulted in severe damage to both trains and 12 persons received non-critical injuries. As a result of this incident Section 3 Rule 1 was amended to include a mandatory maximum speed of 25 km/h after an automatic signal had been passed at Stop. The train operator also amended their processes for reviewing and assessing the competency of all current drivers and introduced a process to monitor its effectiveness. The report (dated May 2001) produced by the then Department of Infrastructure’s Office of the Director of Public Transport, Safety and Technical Services Branch noted that all new trains on order for Victoria would comply with modern European energy absorption methods and principles. This report recommended that the train operator assess the benefits and practicality of installing speed limiting equipment (after passing signals at danger) and data loggers to suburban trains. As recommended, suburban train fleets delivered since the Holmesglen incident have incorporated the European energy and absorption methods and principles. However, data loggers are still in the process of being commissioned on the Comeng train fleet and will, at a later date, be introduced to the other suburban fleets. The operator assessed the benefits and practicality of installing the recommended speed limiting technology for situations such as passing signals at danger. The recommendation was not adopted by the operator which noted it, ‘…would not support the fitting of equipment to the current rolling stock to limit the speed of trains after passing signals at Stop due to the disbenefits on time performance, the limited effectiveness of the proposal and the complexity and costs involved.’ AnalysisThe incidentVandalism to signal CGB522 led to an Up suburban train being held at Craigieburn Railway Station, blocking Down traffic. This delay resulted in the freight train being held at signal CGB539, short of the Craigieburn Station. This in turn caused the two automatic signals behind it (E785 and E809) to display a Stop aspect to the following suburban passenger train. Even though these signals displayed a Stop aspect, the suburban train was permitted to pass them if certain conditions were met and procedures followed as described in Section 3 Rule1 of the Book of Rules and Operating procedures 1994. After the train was ‘tripped’ at signal E809, it accelerated to almost 70 km/h and was coasting when the driver moved the brake handle to the emergency position, probably as a result of seeing the train in front. When the emergency brake was applied the distance available was insufficient for the train to stop and the suburban train impacted the stationary freight train at about 47 km/h. The freight train was propelled forward about 30 metres. The suburban train came to a stop about 16 metres after impact; the three leading cars having been pushed together during the collision and the trailing end of the second car (1135T) lifting and overriding the leading end of the third car (661M). Accelerometer data from the train’s M-cars shows the sequential nature of the impact along the train. Directory: data -> assets -> word doc -> 0009 word doc -> Commonwealth of Australia 2000 word doc -> Priority Existing Chemical word doc -> Rail safety news issue 6 – October 2011 word doc -> Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying 0009 -> Part r54 supply of led lanterns 0009 -> Welcome to the new style Quality and Safety e-Bulletin 0009 -> Comments on Productivity Commission Inquiry into Intellectual Property Arrangements 2016 By Tony Healy, software engineer and occasional writer on innovation policy 0009 -> Recordings kept in the Listening Room. 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