Granges-près-Marnand train crash

Granges-près-Marnand train crash
Details
Date29 July 2013
18:50 CEST (16:50 UTC)
LocationGranges-près-Marnand
Coordinates46°46′25″N 6°53′35″E / 46.77361°N 6.89306°E / 46.77361; 6.89306
CountrySwitzerland
LinePalézieux–Payerne
OperatorSwiss Federal Railways
Incident typeHead-on collision
CauseDriver error - SPAD
Statistics
Trains2
Passengers40+
Deaths1
Injured25

On 29 July 2013, two passenger trains were involved in a head-on collision at Granges-près-Marnand, Switzerland, killing one person and injuring 25 others.

Accident

At 18:50 CEST (16:50 UTC),[1] two passenger trains were involved in a head-on collision at Granges-près-Marnand, Vaud, Switzerland,[2] on the Palézieux–Payerne line.[3] Initially, it was reported that up to 44 people were injured,[4] five seriously.[5] This was later revised to 25 injured.[6] The 24-year-old driver of the train heading to Granges-près-Marnand was killed in the crash:[1][7] His body was recovered in the early hours of 30 July.[8] The injured were taken to hospitals in Lausanne and Payerne.[5] All but three of the injured had been discharged from hospital by 30 July.[6] Both of the trains were operated by Swiss Federal Railways.[citation needed]

Disruption

As a result of the accident, train services were suspended between Moudon and Payerne. A bus replacement service was provided.[3] The line was scheduled to be reopened in the afternoon of 30 July.[9]

Investigation

At the time, the Swiss Accident Investigation Board (SAIB) were responsible for investigating railway accidents in Switzerland.[10] The wrecked trains were moved to Yverdon where they were examined by the investigators.[6]

Cause

Initial reports indicated that the local train at Grange-près-Marnand station did not wait for the arrival of the incoming train from Payerne and left the station too soon.[11] The SAIB final report shows that the accident was caused by train 12976 departing from Granges-près-Marnard against a red signal.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Short description" (in French). Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Dozens injured as two trains collide in Switzerland". RTÉ News. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Zugunglück in der Waadt – 5 Schwerverletzte" [Train accident in Vaud - 5 seriously injured] (in German). 20 minutes. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Swiss Train Crash: 44 Passengers Injured". Yahoo. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b Bourquenoud, Sarah. "Cinq blessés graves dans une collision entre deux trains" [Five seriously injured in a collision between two trains] (in French). 24 heures. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "VIDEOS. Collision ferroviaire en Suisse : l'erreur humaine est la piste privilégiée" [VIDEOS. Train Collision in Switzerland: human error is thought likely] (in French). La Parisien. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Swiss officials investigating deadly head-on train crash". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Swiss train crash: Dozens hurt in Granges-pres-Marnand". BBC News Online. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  9. ^ "SBB-Crash in der Waadt: Der Lokführer ist tot" [SBB crash in Vaud: The driver is dead] (in German). Blick. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Welcome to the homepage of the SAIB". Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. ^ Biéler, Gilles. "Le train régional serait parti trop tôt de Granges-Marnand" [The regional train departed from Granges-Marnand too soon] (in French). 24 heures. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Rapport final du Service d'enquête suisse sur les accidents SESA sur la collision des trains 12976 et 4049 du 29 juillet 2013 à Granges-Marnand (VD) N° reg.:2013072902" [Final report of the Swiss inquiry into the collision of trains 12976 and 4040 at Granges-près-Marnard, Vaud on 29 July 2013] (PDF) (in French). Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2016.