3 Major Types of Railway Accidents and 36 List of Causes Common to Them

Rail Accident

It is an undeniable fact that rail accidents have become a significant concern in the world and this explains why several efforts have been made by different countries concerned to reduce the rate of accident in their countries. However, in this article are the 3 major types of railway accident and the list of their causes.

3 Major Types of Railway Accidents

1. Collision Accidents
2. Derailment Accidents and
3. Other Means of Accidents                                                                                         1. Rail Accident by Collision

A collision is a crash in which 2 trains hit each other. In other words, a collision occurs when a train runs into another or an object. Once it happens, the result is always very serious, if not fatal. This is why collision is the most dangerous accident in rail transports. However, the major types of collisions include:

* Head-on collision,

* Rear-end collision and

* Side collision

Types of Rail Accident by Collision

Since a collision involves 2 or more objects crashing into one another, hence this type of crash includes:

1. Collision involving Trains
2. Collision involving a Train and a Motor Vehicle
3. Collision Involving a Pedestrian

Collision involving Trains

This is a head-on collision between 2 trains. This kind of accident always results to great disasters.

Collision involving a train and a motor vehicle

Several motorists and passengers have lost their lives in level crossing accidents. It is very difficult if not impossible for a train to stop like a motor vehicle for any object at the level crossing.

Collision involving Pedestrian

As a collision can occur between a train and a motor vehicle, likewise pedestrians, in fact, a collision involving a pedestrian or pedestrians is more likely to result infatality.

2. Rail Accident by Derailment

A derailment occurs when a train leaves its tracks; better still, a derailment is

said to occur when a moving rail suddenly runs off its tracks. When a single car or coach derails, it may affect other cars and at times, you see the whole train derails completely.

A derailment can be due to a defaulted plain track, over speed at a cross section, junction or a collision, among others.

3. Rail Accident by other means

   Fire Accident

During a railway operation, a fire accident may occur in a train, probably due to a

vehicular electrical fault, or an attack by terrorists. People sitting on top of a train

and people hanging on a moving train may also fall down. These, among other

means, are possible ways by which accidents can occur in rail transport.

List of Causes of Rail Accident

There many factors that can cause rail accident, below are the list of some of these factors:

1. Communication Errors
2. Brake Rigging Defects
3. Hand Brake Defects
4. Other Brake Defects
5. Over Speed
6. Body Defects
7. Center-Plate/Car- body Defects
8. Wrong Use of Switches
9. Coupler Defects
10. Track and Structure Defects
11. Truck Structure Defects
12. Obstructions
13. Side-bearing, Suspension Defects
14. Level Crossing Collisions
15. Bearing Failure
16. Axle Defects
17. Track-Train Intersection
18. Broken Wheels
19. Other Wheel Defects
20. Signal Failures
21. TOFC/COFC Defects
22. Road-bed Defects
23. Non-Traffic Weather Causes
24. Loco Electrical and Fires
25. All other Locomotive Defects
26. Track Geometry ( excl. Wide Gauge )
27. All Other Car Defects

28. Stiff Truck
29. Rail Defects at Bolted Joint
30. Joint Bar Defects
31. Broken Rails or Welds
32. Brake Operation (Main Line)
33. Other Rail and Joint Defects
34. Failure to Obey/Display Signal
35. Train Length ( Car-mile- related and train-mile- related accident)
36. Employee Physical Condition