Train 533, derailment, Te Wera, 26 July 2002
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
02-116
On Friday, 26 July 2002, at about 0150, Train 533, a westbound express freight, derailed as it negotiated a 45 km/h speed restricted curve after descending a 1 in 51 gradient between Whangamomona and Te Wera. The train plunged about 12 m down the side of the track formation killing the locomotive engineer. A second crew member sustained serious injuries.
The 2 locomotives and several wagons on the train were extensively damaged, but the track sustained minor damage only.
Causal factors included:
· the locomotive crew’s loss of attention and situational awareness consistent with their having fallen asleep
· consuming alcohol prior to commencing duty
· the accepted non-compliance with track warrant instructions
· the inability of the locomotive vigilance system to overcome such short-term attention deficits in time to prevent this type of accident.
Safety recommendations have been made to address these issues.
The 2 locomotives and several wagons on the train were extensively damaged, but the track sustained minor damage only.
Causal factors included:
· the locomotive crew’s loss of attention and situational awareness consistent with their having fallen asleep
· consuming alcohol prior to commencing duty
· the accepted non-compliance with track warrant instructions
· the inability of the locomotive vigilance system to overcome such short-term attention deficits in time to prevent this type of accident.
Safety recommendations have been made to address these issues.
Location
Te Wera at about 44.5km between Pohakura and Stratford (-39.183315,174.620598) [may be approximate]