B1/2000R Accident at Unguarded Level Crossing in Ii, on February 9, 2000

On Wednesday 9 February 2000 a level crossing accident occurred in Ii. Passenger train M974 travelling from Rovaniemi towards Kajaani collided with a van at an unguarded level crossing, and derailed. The train consisting of four coaches was hauled by a Dr16 diesel-electric locomotive. There were 75 passengers aboard the train and a train crew of one engine driver and three conductors. In the accident the engine driver, the driver of the van and nine train passengers were injured.

A train running at a speed of 120 km/h collided with a van approaching the level crossing from the left at a low speed. The train hit it on the side exactly at the sliding cargo door. The locomotive derailed travelling down the track bed on the right side of the track and turned over on its left side with its rear towards the running direction. Also the first coach of the train turned over on its left side with its rear on the track bed, and its front end by the track bed. The two middle coaches derailed, as well, but remained in their upright position. As for the last coach, only the front bogie derailed.

The van was completely damaged. The locomotive and the first coach which had turned over were badly damaged. Also the end frames of the other coaches suffered damage. The seats in all coaches remained undamaged in their fixtures. About 200 m of track was damaged and rails had to be replaced over a length of 50 m. The total costs generated by the accident amounted to about FIM 20.3 million.

The driver of the van approaching the level crossing at a low speed failed to perceive in time the approaching train. Since the driver knew that the visibility to the left was poorer than to the right, he probably primarily concentrated on looking towards the left. Furthermore the beam between the windscreen and the quarter glass, the crossing sign and its arm may have contributed to a poor visibility towards the right. Then when the driver of the van perceived the train he thought that because of the slippery road he would not have enough time to stop the van and therefore he accelerated and hurried to cross the railway. However, due to the slipperiness and the poor condition of the tyres the van did not succeed in accelerating fast enough.

The train derailed as a result of the van penetrating partly under the wheels of the locomotive. The obstruction clearing device of the locomotive yielded and the van pushed partly under the nose of the locomotive and further under its front wheels.

In order to prevent corresponding accidents the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends a strengthening of the obstruction clearing device of the Dr16 locomotives and a redesigning of its form so as to render its underedge closer to the track. The Accident Investigation Board also recommends that in the Track Technical Regulations and Instructions, the visibility regulations and the location of the crossing signs governing unguarded level crossings be modified. In view of the development of the rescue action the Accident Investigation Board recommends that the level crossings be equipped with name signs, the level crossing list kept by the Finnish Rail Administration be supplemented by localisation coordinates, the Emergency Centres be notified of these coordinates, the alarm panels in Oulu Emergency Centre be fitted with additional displays, the alarm formations feature more reasonable arrangements, and finally guidance, grouping and standby areas be assigned for the relevant human resources ready to perform rescue operations, and the instructions on the rescue operation be developed so as to permit immediate action to be engaged.

Legends for the figures in the report are also in English.

B1/2000R Report (pdf, 0.59 Mt)

• Recommendation S140
• Recommendation S141
• Recommendation S142
• Recommendation S143
• Recommendation S144
• Recommendation S145
• Recommendation S146
• Recommendation S147
• Recommendation S148