Executive summary
On Wednesday 7 March 2001 at about 2233 Train 531, a southbound express freight train collided with the rear of Train 547, another southbound express freight service which had stalled on the Mokoia Bank between Whareroa and Mokoia on the Marton to New Plymouth Line. Train 531 had entered the section and was going to assist Train 547 when the collision occurred. The locomotive engineer of Train 547 had not protected the rear of his disabled train to warn the locomotive engineer of Train 531 as he approached.
Safety issues identified included:
· the effectiveness of the process for identifying and confirming the location of a disabled train
· the effectiveness of the track warrant theory recertification process in identifying any shortcomings in rules knowledge of operating staff
· control of locomotive engineers’ hours of duty.
Three safety recommendations were made to the operator covering these issues.
Related Recommendations
Develop a separate track warrant theory recertification examination for train controllers, which covers all relevant track warrant rules and regulations and other instructions included in reference manuals and books.
Develop and introduce a checksheet for use by train controllers when dealing with disabled trains, to include such detail as: - the exact metrage of the disabled train and how it was established - the length of the disabled train - the recognised points between which it was disabled - the end from which relief is to come - the actions taken to protect the disabled train - confirmation that the intended recovery action was discussed with the locomotive engineers of the disabled train and the relief train
Replace the current multi-choice track warrant theory recertification examination for locomotive engineers with a more comprehensive examination which incorporates all track warrant control rules and regulations contained in the rulebook