Express freight Train 228, signal passed at danger, Plimmerton, 23 February 2000
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
00-102
At about 2000 on Wednesday 23 February 2000, Train 228, a Wellington to Auckland express freight service, passed a signal at Stop and entered Plimmerton station limits. An electric multiple unit, which had been running ahead of Train 228 and terminated at Plimmerton, was standing at the platform on the up main line ready to depart on its return journey to Wellington.
Train 228 stopped about 180 metres short of colliding with the electric multiple unit.
Six safety issues were identified:
• the visibility of signals at authorised line speed
• the failure of the Locomotive Engineer to respond to an Intermediate signal warning him that the next signal in advance, 18 up home signal at Plimmerton, was at Stop
• the absence of any defences to protect a level crossing if a locomotive engineer did not respond to a Stop and Proceed signal in advance
• the lack of warning to road users when signals in close proximity to level crossings are passed at Stop
• the absence of a safe signal overrun distance at Plimmerton
• the locomotive engineer not being immediately relieved after having been involved in a serious operating irregularity.
Three safety recommendations were made to the operator.
Train 228 stopped about 180 metres short of colliding with the electric multiple unit.
Six safety issues were identified:
• the visibility of signals at authorised line speed
• the failure of the Locomotive Engineer to respond to an Intermediate signal warning him that the next signal in advance, 18 up home signal at Plimmerton, was at Stop
• the absence of any defences to protect a level crossing if a locomotive engineer did not respond to a Stop and Proceed signal in advance
• the lack of warning to road users when signals in close proximity to level crossings are passed at Stop
• the absence of a safe signal overrun distance at Plimmerton
• the locomotive engineer not being immediately relieved after having been involved in a serious operating irregularity.
Three safety recommendations were made to the operator.
Location
Plimmerton (-41.083733,174.867008) [may be approximate]