Jokela rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Jokela rail accident occurred on April 21, 1996 at 07:08 local time (04:08 UTC) in Tuusula
, Finland
, approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Helsinki
. 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 five crew members. The engine overturned and eight of the twelve carriages derailed. 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 FIM 26 million (€
4.3 million).
, and the usual southbound track was out of service. Because of heavy fog and high speed, the driver was unable to see the distant signal
that warned about a divergent routing with a turnout speed limit of 35 kilometres per hour (21.7 mph) ahead. The visibility was a few dozen metres. Before the accident, drivers of passing trains had reported that the visibility of signals was very low. Moreover, the printed notice about the track diversion, the so-called weekly warning, was confusingly written.
When arriving at the home signal, the train was still running at 133 kilometres per hour (82.6 mph), having missed the distant signal imposing a limit of 35 kilometres per hour (21.7 mph). Upon noticing the signal, the driver made an emergency brake application but could only decrease the speed to 124 kilometres per hour (77.1 mph) before the train entered the turnout. During the journey, the driver had slightly oversped a number of times to maintain the schedule.
system. However, the Jyväskylä rail accident happened only two years later, showing that more improvements were necessary.
– 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 accident – overspeed through turnout
Tuusula
Tuusula is a municipality of Finland. It belongs to the Helsinki sub-region of the Uusimaa region. The municipality has a population of .-Geography:...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. Four people were killed and 75 injured when express train P82 from Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
, bound for Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, derailed in heavy fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. The overnight sleeper train was carrying 139 passengers and five crew members. The engine overturned and eight of the twelve carriages derailed. 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 FIM 26 million (€
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
4.3 million).
Causes
Railroad maintenance work was going on near Jokela railway stationJokela railway station
Jokela railway station is located in Tuusula, Finland, 48 km to the north of Helsinki Central railway station. It is situated between the stations of Nuppulinna and Hyvinkää...
, and the usual southbound track was out of service. Because of heavy fog and high speed, the driver was unable to see the distant signal
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
that warned about a divergent routing with a turnout speed limit of 35 kilometres per hour (21.7 mph) ahead. The visibility was a few dozen metres. Before the accident, drivers of passing trains had reported that the visibility of signals was very low. Moreover, the printed notice about the track diversion, the so-called weekly warning, was confusingly written.
When arriving at the home signal, the train was still running at 133 kilometres per hour (82.6 mph), having missed the distant signal imposing a limit of 35 kilometres per hour (21.7 mph). Upon noticing the signal, the driver made an emergency brake application but could only decrease the speed to 124 kilometres per hour (77.1 mph) before the train entered the turnout. During the journey, the driver had slightly oversped a number of times to maintain the schedule.
Aftermath
The Accident Investigation Board produced 18 recommendations, which included improvements over railway signalling, better seat fixing, improvements on communication and accelerated building of the automatic train controlAutomatic Train Control
Automatic Train Control is a train protection system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. Its main advantages include making possible the use of cab signalling instead of track-side signals and the use of smooth deceleration patterns in lieu of the...
system. However, the Jyväskylä rail accident happened only two years later, showing that more improvements were necessary.
Similar accidents
Milton rail crashMilton rail crash
In the Milton rail crash a passenger train took a crossover too fast and derailed. 11 were killed, and 157 were injured.- Overview :The crash occurred at about 13:15 on Sunday 20 November 1955, at Milton, between and on the line from on the Western Region of British Railways...
– overspeed through turnout Bourne End rail crash
Bourne End rail crash
The Bourne End rail crash occurred on 30 September 1945 when an overnight sleeping-car express train from Scotland to London Euston derailed due to a driver's error...
– overspeed through turnout Goswick rail crash
Goswick rail crash
The Goswick rail crash occurred on 26 October 1947 near the village of Goswick, Northumberland, England. The Flying Scotsman express from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed. 28 people were killed...
– overspeed through turnout Waterfall rail accident – overspeed through sharp curve Brühl train disaster
Brühl train disaster
The Brühl train disaster happened on 6 February 2000 in the Brühl, Germany, railway station on the West Rhine railway. A train negotiated a low speed turnout at three times the correct speed and derailed, killing 9 people....
– overspeed through turnout Jyväskylä rail accident – overspeed through turnout