Jokela rail crash

Infobox rail accident
title = Jokela rail crash
date = April 21, 1996
07:08 AM EEST (04:08 AM UTC)


location = Tuusula, Finland
coordinates = coord|60|33|16|N|24|58|2|E|
line = Päärata
cause = Overspeeding through turnout
trains = VR express train P82 with Sr1 locomotive
pax = 139
deaths = 4
injuries = 75

The Jokela rail crash occurred on April 21, 1996 in Tuusula, Finland; approximately convert|50|km|mi to the north of Helsinki.

Overview

Four people were killed and 75 injured when express train P82 from Oulu bound for Helsinki derailed in heavy fog. The overnight sleeper train was carrying 139 passengers and 5 crew members, of which three passengers and the driver were killed. The engine car and eight of the twelve carriages were derailed, and the official investigation into the accident revealed that the accident was due to overspeeding through a slow-speed turnout.

It is estimated that the total cost of the accident was over €4.3 million. [ [http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=1&ag=2&t=00379 Pages on the crash from the YLE Archives] (in Finnish)]

Causes

A railroad work was going on near the Jokela railway station, and the usual south-going track was closed. Because of heavy fog and high speed the driver was unable to see the distant signal that warned about a change of track and a turnout speed limit of 35 km/h ahead. The visibility was a few dozen metres. Before the accident, drivers of passing trains had reported that the visibility of signals was very weak. Additionally, the printed forewarning about the change of tracks, the so-called weekly warning, was inconsistently written.

When arriving at the home signal, the train was running at 133 km/h, even though a limit of 35 was signaled. Upon noticing the signal the driver made an emergency brakedown, but could only decrease the speed to 124 km/h until the train arrived at the turnout. During the journey the driver had slightly oversped a number of times to avoid being late of schedule.

Similar accidents

* Milton rail crash - overspeed through turnout
* Bourne End rail crash - overspeed through turnout
* Goswick rail crash - overspeed through turnout
* Waterfall rail accident - overspeed through sharp curve
* Brühl train disaster - overspeed through turnout
* Jyväskylä rail crash - overspeed through turnout

See also

* List of 1950-1999 rail accidents

References