Report on damaged windows in passenger trains on the Bergen Line 17 and 26 March 2019
Railway report 2020/03
At 1240 on Sunday 17 March 2019, both the inner and outer panes of glass were smashed in one window, and 11 others were damaged in one of the carriages in train 61 while this was inside the Finsetunnel. Lumps of ice threw up gravel and ice, which rebounded off the tunnel wall onto the side of the train. At 14:50 on Tuesday 26 March 2019, train 62 was struck by an icefall at milepost 157.950 by Østre Gaptjern Tunnel between Bergheim and Flå on the Bergen Line. The icefall struck the second-last carriage of the train. Both the inner and outer panes of glass were smashed in two windows, and the broken glass sprayed into the carriage. Three people sustained minor injuries in this incident.
The passenger carriages in both incidents were of the B7 type. The windows in these carriages are made from double-layer toughened safety glass and meet the applicable European requirements set out in UIC 564-1. On account of the two incidents, the AIBN believes that an assessment should be made of whether the glass is sufficiently strong for Norwegian conditions. None of the windows in the type 7 carriages are defined as primary escape exits. However, safety hammers have been installed to break the side windows in the event of the primary escape routes becoming inaccessible.
Norske Tog AS, the owner of the carriages, is of the opinion that it is not advisable to deviate from the current standard of the panes of glass. From their point of view, the risk contribution does not justify special Norwegian requirements, in addition to the specifications used today.
The AIBN submits one safety recommendation following this investigation. It concerns assessing whether the windows in Norwegian passenger carriages are sufficiently strong.
Photo: Helge Sunde
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation JB no 2020/04T
On Sunday 17 and Tuesday 26 March 2019, several windows in B7 carriages were smashed by ice and gravel. Three persons sustained cuts in connection with the latter incident. The windows are made up of an outer layer of toughened glass and an inner layer of laminated glass. In instances where both the outer and inner panes smash, the laminated glass should remain in the window frame and prevent the toughened glass from entering the passenger compartment.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Railway Directorate advise Norske Tog AS to assess whether the windows in Norwegian passenger carriages are sufficiently strong.
Facts
| Location | Bergensbanen |
| Occurrence date | 26.03.2019 |
| Train No | 62 |
| Type of Transportation | Passenger train |
| Type of occurrence | Other |
| Rolling Stock | Passenger Carriage |
| Operator | Bane NOR SF |