On 11 December 2023, while operating from the direction of Moravica freight train number (railway undertaking Rail Cargo Carrier-Croatia d.o.o.) on the line marked M202, due to an uncontrolled increase in speed and the impossibility of stopping in front of the exit signal of the station Meja marked D-3 (signal indicating “STOP”) train number 81218 continued towards the station Škrljevo. Freight train number 81218 continued to operate uncontrolled on the line marked M202, and at km 635+155 (at the level of the pre-signal “PsB” of station Meja) it collided with a special purpose railway vehicle (TMD) as part of train number 70007. Furthermore, train number 81218 pushed the TMD along the line in the direction of station Škrljevo, and due to the increase in speed the freight wagons and locomotives as part of freight train number 81218 derailed at km 639+884 of the line M202.
There were no fatalities or serious injuries in the serious railway accident, driver of train number 81218 requested medical assistance due to shock and stress, while significant material damage occurred to the involved railway vehicles and to part of the line M202.
The causal factor of the serious accident in question is a combination of related events: the braking procedures in train no. 81218 after passing through station Plase and arriving at the railway downgrade were not in accordance with the defined first braking stage, which, together with the absence of a properly performed brake test before starting the train, represented a deviation from the standard operating procedures when operating the automatic air brake system (Chapter 3.1.7., 4.4.1.), the amount of braking force achieved by the locomotives alone was not sufficient to stop the train i.e. to reduce speed (Chapter 3.1.7.), a possible impact on the operation of individual elements of the braking system within the bogies on the involved wagons series Tagnpps as a result of residual rubber protection (Chapter 3.2.3., 4.2.2.).
Contributing factor:
- difficult and demanding section of the line marked M202 from station Drivenik to station Škrljevo up to 26‰ downgrade (Figure 8, Chapter 3.1.8).
Systemic factor:
- no second professionally trained executive worker (in addition to the driver of train) was provided to conduct the brake test in the prescribed manner (Chapter 4.3.3).
The Agency for Investigation of Accidents in Air, Maritime and Railway Transport, based on the conducted investigation of this accident, in order to increase the safety of the railway system, addresses the following safety recommendations to the Agency for Railway Safety:
✓ AIN/06-SR-09/2026
It is recommended to the infrastructure manager to determine the optimal locations and install measuring stations (HOT BOX) on the section of the line M202 between the stations Drivenik and Rijeka within 24 months due to the high gradient (downgrade) of the line and thus the increased risk of extraordinary events that could lead to serious accidents, all with the aim of increasing safety and monitoring extraordinary events. Additionally, the infrastructure manager is recommended to identify, based on the risk analysis, all other sections on the railway network with an increased risk of axle assemblies overheating and to define the dynamics of installation of measuring devices at these locations within 36 months in order to ensure the continuous safety performance of the system.
✓ AIN/06-SR-10/2026
It is recommended that all railway undertakings and infrastructure managers, during regular annual training of locomotive personnel, revisit the topics of train braking procedures, especially on lines with higher downgrades, to maintain a high level of competence and operational readiness for the safe management of (automatic air) brakes in demanding topographical conditions.
✓ AIN/06-SR-11/2026
It is recommended that all railway undertakings and infrastructure managers ensure the mandatory presence of a second competent executive staff member (in addition to the train driver) when performing brake tests, in accordance with Article 39 of the current Regulation on the Manner and Conditions for the Safe Operation and Management of Railway Traffic (“Official Gazette”, No. 107/16).