C3/2002R Freight train passing rail barrier at Suoniemi on 11 April, 2002

On Thursday 11 April 2002 at 4.39 hrs a freight train travelled through a rail barrier and then stopped on a sand bank. The accident took place at Suoniemi, Finland. In the accident the locomotive of the train and three of its wagons were damaged as well as some track equipment. No major disturbances in traffic were generated as a result of the accident.

The accident was caused by a too late braking operated by the engine driver. The reason for the delayed braking may be found in the driver’s failing vigilance or his dozing off at the moment of his approaching an E022 main signal displaying a "stop" aspect. The accident finally took place as the control speed of 35km/h specified for this track 2 was too high to enable the emergency braking activated by the ATC system, to stop the train before the rail barrier.

In order to prevent corresponding accidents, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland recommends that the ATC system be developed so as to ensure that an emergency braking by ATC at the control speed is capable of stopping a train before a rail barrier.

C3/2002R Report (pdf, 0.63 Mt)

•Recommendation S177