Report 2014/07
Railway report 2014/07
At 10:55 on Monday 4 November 2013, Cargolink AS` southbound freight train no 5910 derailed at kilometre point 333.796 between Dombås and Dovre station on the Dovrebanen line. Uneven settlement of the tracks had taken place after some excavation work two weeks previously. The tracks had settled in a way that produced pendulum movements in the train. This took the load off the rear axle of the train's first wagon in a way that caused one of the wheel flanges to climb onto and run off the rail. The coupler between the first and second wagons also bounced off at the same time. The derailment broke one of the panels on a level crossing. Boards from the panel hit the air hose coupling between the first and second wagon, and closed the first wagon's air valve. As a consequence, the brakes for the rear part of the train were automatically engaged, but not those for the forward part of the train. The train was operated without any nonconformities in relation to applicable guidelines. The train composition was unfavourable, but not incorrect. It is acceptable to operate empty, two-axled freight wagons with axle loads as low as five tonnes at the forward end of freight trains, and to use the locomotive's dynamic electrical brakes at the same time. It is assumed that the derailment was due to a combination of factors. The settlement of the track, the composition of the train and the operation of the train were all within acceptable limits; the AIBN believes that the derailment was a result of how these factors acted together. The fact that some parts of the train's brake system were uncontrolledly shut off in connection with the derailment is a serious matter in the AIBN's opinion, and deserving of attention.
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation JB no 2014/09T
At the time of the derailment, Cargolink AS lacked a description of where wagons should be placed in a train and had not defined any requirements for functional interfaces for longitudinal transfer of traction and compression loads in the train. As part of the general and overriding requirements for the operation of trains on the national rail network, the Norwegian Train Operation Regulations state that it is the responsibility of each individual railway undertaking to analyse its own activities in order to ensure that it has adequate instructions and procedures in place that are harmonised with overriding requirements and the activities of other railway undertakings.
The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that the Norwegian Railway Authority (Statens jernbanetilsyn) request that Cargolink AS review the risk analyses on which its internal procedures and instructions are based in order to ensure that they are comprehensive enough and ensure functional operation across interfaces with the national railway network and with the activities of other railway undertakings.
Facts
| Location | Between Dombås and Dovre station on the Dovre Line |
| Occurrence date | 04.11.2013 |
| Train No | 5910 |
| Type of Transportation | Freight train |
| Type of occurrence | Derailment |
| Rolling Stock | Freight wagon |