Train control incidents, hi-rail vehicles and trains occupying the same section of track and a collision, various localities, 17 December 1999 - 5 September 2000
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
00-101
On 17 December 1999, an incident occurred near Greymouth where a locomotive engineer was given permission by train control for his train to enter a section of track already occupied by a hi-rail vehicle. The driver of the hi-rail vehicle saw the train and was able to off-track in time to avert a collision.
On 17 January 2000, train control gave permission for a group of hi-rail vehicles to on-track near Paerata in front of a passenger express train. The train collided with one of the hi-rail vehicles and pushed it some 300 m along the track. The hi-rail vehicle, which was unoccupied at the time, was destroyed in the collision.
Another 2 incidents occurred where train control gave permission for trains to enter sections of track occupied by hi-rail vehicles: one on 14 February 2000 near St Andrews, and one on 5 September 2000 near Woodville. Neither of these 2 incidents resulted in collisions.
Given the similar issues arising from each incident, all 4 were combined into this one report.
Safety issues identified included:
• the repeated non-adherence to basic train control techniques taught during training and covered by procedures in the operating code
• inadequate auditing and assessment of train controller performance
• train controllers not using, nor being required to use, signal "blocking commands" as a defence against them issuing conflicting instructions to track users
• the potential for train controllers to report for duty when not fit to do so.
Four safety recommendations were made to the operator to address the safety issues.
On 17 January 2000, train control gave permission for a group of hi-rail vehicles to on-track near Paerata in front of a passenger express train. The train collided with one of the hi-rail vehicles and pushed it some 300 m along the track. The hi-rail vehicle, which was unoccupied at the time, was destroyed in the collision.
Another 2 incidents occurred where train control gave permission for trains to enter sections of track occupied by hi-rail vehicles: one on 14 February 2000 near St Andrews, and one on 5 September 2000 near Woodville. Neither of these 2 incidents resulted in collisions.
Given the similar issues arising from each incident, all 4 were combined into this one report.
Safety issues identified included:
• the repeated non-adherence to basic train control techniques taught during training and covered by procedures in the operating code
• inadequate auditing and assessment of train controller performance
• train controllers not using, nor being required to use, signal "blocking commands" as a defence against them issuing conflicting instructions to track users
• the potential for train controllers to report for duty when not fit to do so.
Four safety recommendations were made to the operator to address the safety issues.
Location
Paerata (-42.458025,171.236396) [may be approximate]