C9/2003R Nine loaded timber-carrying wagons derailing at Rantasalmi on 31 July, 2003

On Thursday July 31, 2003, an incident took place at Rantasalmi where nine wagons of a freight train derailed. In the incident, the nine derailed wagons were damaged as well as about 200 m of track.

The direct cause of the wagon derailment incident was a heat curve having been generated in the track. The heat curve again was a result of the high temperature of the track combined with the poor condition of the rail fastenings and the sleeper bed, as well as the dislocation of rail joints. In addition the sleeper replacement work in the track and the on-going tamping operations contrib-uted to the vulnerability of the track.

In order to prevent corresponding incidents in the future, the Accident Investigation Board of Finland reiterates its recommendation S181 issued as a result of an accident having taken place at Huutokoski, Finland, on May 31, 2002. The track should immediately be repaired and the defective old sleepers be replaced by new ones. Replacement of spike fastening by screw fastening, replacement of the rails by heavier ones, and replacement of the gravel in the railway bed by ballast should be discussed and considered.

C9/2003R Report (pdf, 0.41 Mt)

•Recommendation S181