Freight train 521, derailment, Westmere, near Wanganui, 22 September 2000
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
00-115
On Friday 22 September 2000, at about 2338, express freight Train 521 derailed when travelling too fast for the first curve encountered descending the 1 in 35 down grade on the Westmere bank. The 2 locomotives were severely damaged when they overturned following the derailment. The locomotive engineer received only minor injuries.
The reason for the excessive speed was the locomotive engineer’s loss of awareness during a microsleep.
Safety issues identified included the control of locomotive engineer hours of duty, fatigue management and the ability of the vigilance system to overcome a short-term attention deficit in sufficient time to allow effective corrective action to be taken.
The reason for the excessive speed was the locomotive engineer’s loss of awareness during a microsleep.
Safety issues identified included the control of locomotive engineer hours of duty, fatigue management and the ability of the vigilance system to overcome a short-term attention deficit in sufficient time to allow effective corrective action to be taken.
Location
Westmere (-39.878098,175.020787) [may be approximate]