R2023-01 Collision of freight trains in Tampere on 20 September 2023

The Safety Investigation Authority, Finland initiates an investigation under section 2, subsection 2 of the Safety Investigation Act (525/2011), into the collision of two freight trains that occurred in Tampere on 20 September 2023.

In the accident, the freight train T3321 that departed from Tampere to Orivesi was being reversed back to the Viinikka railway yard in Tampere, when its last wagon collided with the wagons of the freight train T3239 that had left the railway yard at the switch V803. As a result of the collision, several wagons derailed.

The accident did not cause personal injuries, but freight wagons and track equipment were damaged. In addition, the accident caused extensive hindrances to train traffic.

The investigation will examine the management of exceptional situations in train traffic, such as reversing, among other things.

Safety Investigator Mikko Tikkanen has been appointed as the Head of the Investigation Team and Mika Hatakka, Doctor of Philosophy (psychology), Olli Himanen, Master of Arts (psychology) as well as train driver (ret.) Timo Koli, traffic controller (ret.) Kari Tervo and Jarkko Luoma, Bachelor of Engineering, have been appointed as members. Chief Rail Safety Investigator Lasse Laatta will be the Investigator-in-Charge.