Jokela rail crash

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The accident scene from the air

The Jokela rail crash occurred on 21 April 1996 in Tuusula, Finland; approximately 50km to the north of Helsinki. Four people were killed and 75 injured when express train P82 from Oulu bound for Helsinki derailed in heavy fog. The overnight sleeper train was carrying 139 passengers and 5 crew members, of which three passengers and the driver were killed. The engine car and eight of the twelve carriages were derailed, and the official investigation into the accident revealed that the accident was due to overspeeding through a slow-speed turnout.

It is estimated that the total cost of the accident was over €4.3 million. ^[1]

[edit] Causes

A railroad work was going on near the Jokela railway station, and the usual south-going track was closed. Because of heavy fog and high speed the driver was unable to see the distant signal that warned about a change of track and a turnout speed limit of 35 km/h ahead. The visibility was a few dozen metres. Before the accident, drivers of passing trains had reported that the visibility of signals was very weak. Additionally, the printed forewarning about the change of tracks, the so-called weekly warning, was inconsistently written.

When arriving at the home signal, the train was running at 133 km/h, even though a limit of 35 was signaled. Upon noticing the signal the driver made an emergency brakedown, but could only decrease the speed to 124 km/h until the train arrived at the turnout. During the journey the driver had slightly oversped a number of times to avoid being late of schedule.