Shigaraki train disaster
Encyclopedia
The was a railway accident that occurred in Shigaraki
(now Koka
), Shiga Prefecture
, Japan
on May 14, 1991. A Shigaraki Kōgen Railway
(SKR) train and a West Japan Railway Company
(JR West) train collided head-on
, killing 42 people and injuring 614 others. Until the Amagasaki rail crash
in 2005, this was the deadliest railway disaster in Japan since the Yokohama rail crash of 1963, which killed 161 people.
A special JR West rapid service train (501D) from Kyoto
bound for Shigaraki had entered the Shigaraki Line at Kibukawa Station
from the Kusatsu Line
, transporting 716 passengers to the World Ceramic Festival that was being held in Shigaraki
at the time.
Going in the opposite direction, an SKR local train (534D) had left Shigaraki and headed for Kibukawa
, despite a red signal.
The was the only point on the single-track line where two trains can safely pass, but the JR West train had already gone past that signal station, as it was given a green signal despite the approaching SKR train. The signal station has been inactivated since the disaster.
and the failed interlocking
that allowed the westbound JR West train to advance past Onotani Signal Station. Both SKR and JR West had independently made unauthorized modification to the signal system, which led to the confusion that prompted the SKR staff to send a train against a red signal, and the faulty wiring that showed the JR West train a green signal, when the approaching SKR train should have turned the signal to red.
SKR suspended passenger service while the Shiga Prefecture
and Ministry of Transport
conducted investigations, and service did not reopen until December 1991. When service resumed, the use of Onotani Signal Station as a passing point was discontinued. As a result, service frequency was reduced from twice an hour to once an hour, with operation in only one direction at any time.
In 1999, the two companies have had a complaint set against them for having negligence
for the victims of the train disaster. In the same year, the two companies were put on trial in the Otsu
District Court. In 2002, in the Osaka
High Court, the West Japan Railway Company
also certified the company's negligence. The West Japan Railway Company however did not appeal to the verdict of the High Court.
JR West discontinued through train operations to the Shigaraki Line, while other Japan Railways Group companies similarly discontinued non-regular through train operations to private and Third Sector railway lines.
The World Ceramic Festival, which was to continue until May 26, was canceled the day following the accident.
Shigaraki, Shiga
was a town located in Kōka District, Shiga, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Shigaraki was merged with the towns of Kōka, Kōnan, Minakuchi and Tsuchiyama, all from Kōka District, to form the new city of Kōka....
(now Koka
Koka, Shiga
is a city located in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture, Japan....
), Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on May 14, 1991. A Shigaraki Kōgen Railway
Shigaraki Kogen Railway
is a Japanese Third Sector railway company whose investors are Shiga Prefecture and the city of Koka.The railway operates the Shigaraki Line, a former Japanese National Railways line that was transferred to the third sector in 1987. The Shigaraki Line runs from Kibukawa on the JR West Kusatsu Line...
(SKR) train and a West Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
(JR West) train collided head-on
Head-on collision
A head-on collision is one where the front ends of two ships, trains, planes or vehicles hit each other, as opposed to a side collision or rear-end collision.-Rail transport:...
, killing 42 people and injuring 614 others. Until the Amagasaki rail crash
Amagasaki rail crash
The Amagasaki rail crash occurred on 25 April 2005 at 09:19 local time , just after the local rush hour. The Rapid Service came off the tracks on the West Japan Railway Company Fukuchiyama Line in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, near Osaka, just before Amagasaki Station on its way for Dōshisha-mae...
in 2005, this was the deadliest railway disaster in Japan since the Yokohama rail crash of 1963, which killed 161 people.
Account of the accident
The accident happened at 10:35 (1:35 UTC) local time on May 14, 1991, on the SKR Shigaraki Line between Onotani Signal Station and Shigarakigūshi.A special JR West rapid service train (501D) from Kyoto
Kyoto Station
is the most important transportation hub in Kyoto, Japan. It has Japan's second-largest train station building and is one of the country's largest buildings, incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof...
bound for Shigaraki had entered the Shigaraki Line at Kibukawa Station
Kibukawa Station
is a train station in Kōka, Shiga, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company**Kusatsu Line*Shigaraki Kōgen Railway**Shigaraki Line*Ohmi Railway**Main Line-JR West, Shigaraki Kogen Railway:*There are 2 platforms with 3 tracks on the ground....
from the Kusatsu Line
Kusatsu Line
The is a railway line in western Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company . It connects Tsuge on the Kansai Main Line with Kusatsu on the Biwako Line .-Stations:...
, transporting 716 passengers to the World Ceramic Festival that was being held in Shigaraki
Shigaraki, Shiga
was a town located in Kōka District, Shiga, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Shigaraki was merged with the towns of Kōka, Kōnan, Minakuchi and Tsuchiyama, all from Kōka District, to form the new city of Kōka....
at the time.
Going in the opposite direction, an SKR local train (534D) had left Shigaraki and headed for Kibukawa
Kibukawa Station
is a train station in Kōka, Shiga, Japan.-Lines:*West Japan Railway Company**Kusatsu Line*Shigaraki Kōgen Railway**Shigaraki Line*Ohmi Railway**Main Line-JR West, Shigaraki Kogen Railway:*There are 2 platforms with 3 tracks on the ground....
, despite a red signal.
The was the only point on the single-track line where two trains can safely pass, but the JR West train had already gone past that signal station, as it was given a green signal despite the approaching SKR train. The signal station has been inactivated since the disaster.
Causes
The primary causes of the accidents were SKR officials allowing the eastbound SKR train to pass red signalsSignal passed at danger
A Signal passed at danger , in British railway terminology, occurs when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so. It is a term primarily used within the British Railway Industry, although it can be applied worldwide.-Categories of SPAD:...
and the failed interlocking
Interlocking
In railway signalling, an interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. The signalling appliances and tracks are sometimes collectively referred to as an interlocking plant...
that allowed the westbound JR West train to advance past Onotani Signal Station. Both SKR and JR West had independently made unauthorized modification to the signal system, which led to the confusion that prompted the SKR staff to send a train against a red signal, and the faulty wiring that showed the JR West train a green signal, when the approaching SKR train should have turned the signal to red.
Response to the accident
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
and Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Japan)
The , abbreviated MLIT, is a ministry of the Japanese government. It is responsible for one-third of all the laws and orders in Japan and the largest Japanese ministry in terms of employees, as well as the second-largest organ of the Japanese government after the Ministry of Defense...
conducted investigations, and service did not reopen until December 1991. When service resumed, the use of Onotani Signal Station as a passing point was discontinued. As a result, service frequency was reduced from twice an hour to once an hour, with operation in only one direction at any time.
In 1999, the two companies have had a complaint set against them for having negligence
Negligence
Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. The area of tort law known as negligence involves harm caused by carelessness, not intentional harm.According to Jay M...
for the victims of the train disaster. In the same year, the two companies were put on trial in the Otsu
Otsu, Shiga
is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
District Court. In 2002, in the Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
High Court, the West Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
also certified the company's negligence. The West Japan Railway Company however did not appeal to the verdict of the High Court.
JR West discontinued through train operations to the Shigaraki Line, while other Japan Railways Group companies similarly discontinued non-regular through train operations to private and Third Sector railway lines.
The World Ceramic Festival, which was to continue until May 26, was canceled the day following the accident.