Classification of railway accidents

Classification of rail accidents by effects

• Head-on collision
• Rear collision
• Slanting collision
• Collisions with buffer stops
• Collisions with obstructions of the track

• Plain track
• Curves
• Junctions

• Fires, explosions and release of hazardous chemicals
• People falling from trains, collisions with people on tracks

  Classification of rail accidents by causes

• Passing signals at danger
• Excessive speed
• Mishandling of the engine
• Failure to check brakes and safety systems as well as sand reserve
• Failure to stop at required positions, e.g. level crossings with defective equipment or shunting movements that lead to occupied tracks.

• Allowing two trains into same occupied block section
• Incorrect operation of signals, points or token equipment

• Poor design
• Poor maintenance
• Undetected damage
• Overloading or freight that is not adequately secured.
• Fire starting from combustion motors, electric cables or equipment, leaking fuel or cooling oil

• Track faults
• Bridge and tunnel collapses
• Poor track or junction layout

• Other railway personnel
• Non-railway personnel
• Accidental
• * Accidental track obstruction e.g. with road vehicles or by working construction vehicles
• Deliberate
• * Deliberate track obstruction, e.g. with road vehicles or objects
• * Intentional damage to infrastructure like tracks, points or signals
• * Level crossing misuse
• * Trespassing

• Track obstruction or damage by landslides, avalanches, floods, trees
• Fog or snow that obscure signals or the current position of the train
• Wet leaves making the tracks slippery.

• Strength of rolling stock
• Fire hazards or dangerous goods in the train, in involved road vehicles or the vicinity
• Effectiveness of brakes
• Inadequate rules