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Classification of railway accidents

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Classification of railway accidents

Classification of railway accidents, both in terms of cause and effect, is a valuable aid in studying rail (and other) accidents to help to prevent similar ones occurring in the future. Systematic investigation for over 150 years has led to the railways' excellent safety record (compared, for example, with road transport).

Contents

Ludwig von Stockert (1913) proposed a classification of accidents by their effects (consequences); e.g. head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, derailments. Schneider and Mase (1971) proposed an additional classification by causes; e.g. driver's errors, signalmen's errors, mechanical faults. Similar categorisations had been made by implication in previous books e.g. Rolt (1956), but Stockert's and Schneider/Mase's are more systematic and complete. With minor changes, they represent best knowledge.

Classification of rail accidents by effects

Collisions

  • Head-on collision
  • Rear collision
  • Collisions with buffer stops
  • Obstructions on the line (road vehicles, landslides, avalanches)

    • Derailments

  • Plain track
  • Curves
  • Junctions

    • Other

  • Fires and explosions (including sabotage/terrorism)
  • Falls from trains, collisions with people on tracks

    • Classification of rail accidents by causes

    Drivers' errors

  • Passing signals at danger
  • Excessive speed
  • Mishandling engine (e.g. boiler explosions)

    • Signalmen's errors

  • Allowing two trains into same occupied block section
  • Incorrect operation of signals, points or token equipment

    • Mechanical failure of rolling stock

  • Poor design
  • Poor maintenance

    • Civil engineering failure

  • Track (permanent way) faults
  • Bridge and tunnel collapses

    • Acts of other people

  • Other railway personnel (shunters, porters, etc.)
  • Non-railway personnel
  • Accidental
  • Deliberate (vandalism, terrorism, suicide)
  • Trespassing

    • Contributory factors

  • Strength of rolling stock
  • Fires resulting from accidents
  • Effectiveness of brakes
  • Poor track or junction layout
  • Inadequate rules
  • Level crossing misuse

    • References

    Classification of railway accidents Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA