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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Rafz Train Crash

The Rafz train crash occurred at approximately 6.43 am on 20 February 2015. An S-Bahn and an Interregio express train collided at Rafz railway station in Rafz, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland.

Accident

The S-Bahn train was formed by a Class 514 electric multiple unit 514 046-2.

The collision occurred as the Interregio train, which was running late, was passing through Ratz without stopping. The S-Bahn train was departing for Jestetten and was involved in a side-long collision, with the Interregio train coming from behind the S-Bahn train. The express was partially derailed, but the couplings held and no carriages overturned. The S-Bahn train was operated by Class 514 electric multiple unit 514 046-2. The InterRegio train was hauled by Class 460 electric locomotive No. 460 087-0. The 49-year-old driver of the express was seriously injured. He was airlifted to hospital by helicopter. There were five other injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Both drivers were in training and accompanied by instructors. A passenger on the S-bahn train said he believed that his train had departed against a red signal. A bridge over a road was damaged and left in danger of collapse. A crane was brought in to recover the derailed carriages, which were then removed by road. About 60 metres (66 yd) of track was damaged, along with a number of supports for the catenary.

Investigation

Shortly after the accident occurred, the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) opened an investigation.

A similar accident in January 2013 at Neuhausen, on the same line, was caused by outmoded safety equipment that allowed a train to leave the station against a signal. The equipment at Rafz should in theory have prevented the 2015 crash; authorities investigated why it did not, and whether there are any similarities between the two accidents. The automatic braking equipment is not activated at the first signal after a train has been turned. The head of the train drivers' union (Verband Schweizer Lokführer und Anwärter [de] VSLF) suggested as a possible cause operator confusion because when Rafz station was renovated in 2011, the applicable signal was installed on the right rather than the left, where such signals are usually positioned. He proposed a rule that trains departing after a change of direction limit their initial speed to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).

In September 2016, the STSB published final report regarding the accident. There, it was concluded that the accident occurred because both drivers of the S-Bahn train had passed a signal at danger. Although an automatic system would later decelerate the train to a standstill, the system could not do so in time, resulting in the train partially protruding onto the tracks of the incoming InterRegio train, resulting in the collision. Among other factors, the STSB identified safety deficits related to the placement of the signals, the communication in the driver's cabin and the training of staff, as well as the target time for the reversal of trains.

Although human error was identified as a main factor of the accident, the SBB determined that none of the drivers were to face any measures of labour law, and both the trainees involved were able to finish their training.

Legacy

Following the recommendations of the VSLF and the STSB, the SBB implemented new rules for reversing trains, imposing the proposed 40 km/h (25 mph) limit until the first signal to ensure that an automatic braking system could slow down the train before it crosses into a hazardous zone. In a press release, SBB indicated that they would investigate whether they could speed up the nationwide implementation of the European Train Control System Level 2, which would prevent situations of this kind, and which was set to be rolled out from 2025 onwards. Additionally, an app, the development of which had been started as a result of the Granges-près-Marnand train crash, was rolled out in August after the accident in Rafz, which warns drivers before they pass signals at danger.

The SBB also made changes to the systems around Rafz railway station, including velocity control systems and improvement of the signalling lights.

References

  1. ^ "Switzerland Zurich: Injuries as trains collide in Rafz". BBC News Online. 20 February 2015.
  2. ^ Baumgartner, Fabian (20 February 2015). "Zugunglück in Rafz: Lokführer waren in Ausbildung" [Train accident in Rafz: Drivers were in training]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German).
  3. ^ Per this image of the damaged locomotive after the crash.
  4. ^ "Plusieurs blessés dans une collision de trains" [Several injured in train collision] (in French). 20 Minuten. 20 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Ein Kran soll Waggons in Rafz bergen" [A crane is to recover carriages in Rafz]. Bluewin.ch (in German). 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. ^ Sheahan, Maria (20 February 2015). "At least five injured as trains collide near Zurich". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Unglückszug rollt über Schweizer Strassen" [Accident train rolls over Swiss roads]. 20 Minuten (in German). PAT/SDA. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Zum Glück sind die Waggons nicht auf die Strasse gefallen" [Fortunately, the carriages did not fall into the road]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. ^ Wilhelm, Martin (20 February 2015). "Ich kann mir nicht erklären, was in Rafz passiert ist" [I cannot understand what happened in Rafz]. Basler Zeitung (in German)..
  10. ^ "Lokführer-Präsident kritisiert nach Zugunglück die SBB" [President of train drivers criticises SBB after train accident]. Berner Zeitung (in German). RAR. 22 February 2015.
  11. ^ Schlussbericht der Schweizerischen Sicherheitsuntersuchungsstelle SUST (PDF) (Report) (in German). Bern. 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  12. ^ Hudec, Jan (5 October 2016). "Eine folgenschwere Verwechslung". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). NZZ Mediengruppe. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Zugunfall in Rafz: menschliches Versagen". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (in German). Zurich. 2016-10-05. 7:26–8:17. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
  14. ^ Baumann, Ruedi (2016-10-06). "Rafz: Schlechte Noten für SBB". Tages-Anzeiger. Zurich: TX Group. p. 21.
  15. ^ "SBB: News". m.sbb.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Railways. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15.
  16. ^ von Andrian, Walter; Scheeder, Fabian (2015). "Die Kollision in Rafz". Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue (in German) (4). Lucerne: Minirex: 170–174. ISSN 1022-7113.
  17. ^ Navarro, Manuel (2016-02-20). "Der Rafzer Bahnhof erhält ein neues Sicherheitssystem". Zürcher Unterländer (in German). Zurich: TX Group. p. 2.