PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REPORT INTO THE HEAD-ON COLLISION BETWEEN TFR TRAIN No 4213 AND SHOSHOLOZA MEYL TRAIN No 47014 OPERATORS TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL AND PRASA PERMIT NUMBER ASP0001NTS & ASP0002NTS INVESTIGATION SUBJECT TFR-Shosholoza Meyl head-on train collision DATE OF OCCURRENCE 20 May 2015 REFERENCE NUMBER Head of Occurrence Investigations Preliminary Investigation Report RSR/20150520/004 Thanduxolo Fumbata Page 1 of 6 CONTENTS 1. ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ 3 2. STATEMENT OF INTENT ........................................................................... 3 3. OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................. 3 4. SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION ............................................................. 4 5. BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION ................................................ 4 5. CAMBRIDGE SIGNAL CONTROL OFFICE FACT FINDING ...................... 5 6. CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 6 Page 2 of 6 1. ABBREVIATIONS BOI Board of Inquiry CTC Centralised Traffic Control Km/h Kilometers per hour OHTE Overhead Traction Equipment Perway Permanent Way PRASA Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa RIC Rail Incident Commander RSR Railway Safety Regulator RTO Radio Train Order TCO Train Control Officer TFR Transnet Freight Rail 2. STATEMENT OF INTENT This investigation has been conducted in accordance with section 38 of the Railway Safety Regulator Act, Act 16 of 2002 (as amended) and is conducted with the objective of determining the facts of the occurrence, the immediate cause and of making recommendations thereof. 3. OBJECTIVE The preliminary investigation’s objective is to collect and understand the factual data relating to this occurrence to assist with the Board of Inquiry process. Page 3 of 6 4. SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION This preliminary investigation included the following: (a) Analysis of the occurrence site. (b) Facts gathered from the Signal Control Office in Cambridge, East London. 5. BACKGROUND TO THE INVESTIGATION 5.1. On 20 May 2014 at approximately 11h30, TFR Train No. 4213 hauling cement laden wagons from Queenstown to Cambridge, East London collided head-on with Shosholoza Meyl long distance passenger train, Train No. 47014 which was enroute from East London to Johannesburg. The collision occurred in a section between Blaney and Southdown Stations in the Eastern Cape. As a result of the collision the following fatalities and injuries were recorded: 5.2. There were 2 deceased and 8 injured operator employees. 3 passengers were injured out of 35 passengers in the train at the time. 5.3. There was extensive damage to the Rolling Stock, Perway and OHTE. 5.4. The method of train control in the section is the radio train order (TRO). Figure 1 Showing damage to the collided trains Page 4 of 6 Figure 2 Showing damage to the collided trains 6. TFR CAMBRIDGE SIGNAL CONTROL OFFICE FACT FINDING 6.1. The TCO issued token No. 1260 to Train No. 4213 from Amabele station to Blaney station at 10h50. The token was cancelled at 11h15. 6.2. At 11h22 the TCO issued token No. 1263 to Train No. 47014 from Blaney to Southdown. After being issued with the token, the train immediately departed from Blaney at 11h22. 6.3. When listening to the RTO communication recordings between Train 4213 and the TCO, the train driver reported to be passing Southdown at 11h15, instead of the TCO repeating what the driver reported she said Blaney 11h15 which was the wrong station. 6.4. The substance abuse test results for the TCO during sign-in and after the occurrence were negative. Page 5 of 6 7. CONCLUSIONS The preliminary investigation conclusions are that: 7.1 The TCO gave a conflicting token to the Shosholoza Meyl Train No 47014, this allowed two trains into the section and resulted in a head-on collision. 7.2 The RSR will conduct an independent Board of Inquiry into the circumstances that led to this collision. The BOI will amongst other things scrutinize the following: 7.3 The adequacy and effectiveness of procedures, training and personnel knowledge of the relevant procedures; 7.4 Background regarding activities pertaining to adherence to, applicable train operating procedures by the train drivers and the TCO concerned as set out in local instructions, General Appendix and other applicable directives; 7.5 The adequacy and effectiveness of maintenance systems and procedures for signals, radio communication network, perway and rolling stock; and 7.6 And any other information that will be relevant to the BOI. Page 6 of 6
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