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On August 10, 2023, a freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel. The Swiss Safety Investigation Authority (Sust) suspects a wheel rim fracture. In the upcoming accident analysis, the cause and questions of responsibility must be clarified, and current safety measures must be reviewed. As representatives of the shipping economy, we see it as our task to systematically and risk-oriented analyze the event.
(Uitikon/Göschenen) The freight railway system is based on the equal cooperation of infrastructure operators (in the Gotthard Base Tunnel: SBB) and railway companies (freight railways), as well as other actors such as wagon keepers, who can potentially influence the safe operation of the railway system. All involved parties have high-quality safety systems and apply the same European regulations regarding the interfaces between the actors. The key players responded quickly and appropriately after the accident: the supply of goods is ensured, and freight and passenger cars are rolling out again. The emergency management systems for freight supply with diversion traffic on the transit corridor have proven effective. The industry is prepared for emergencies.
Safety Standards Have Been Complied With
According to the current information, all actors have complied with safety standards and methods. Trains entering the Gotthard Base Tunnel through the south portal are last checked at Claro (TI) by automatic train control devices. According to the available data, the train entered the tunnel without any issues. The wagon keepers and their Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) are responsible for the maintenance and safe operational condition of the wagons when handed over to the freight railway. The ECM, which is certified by independent bodies, defines maintenance measures and ensures their implementation and documentation according to safety standards and methods.
Legal Protection is Guaranteed
Wagon keepers provide their wagons for use by the freight railways. The freight railways, in turn, utilize the networks of the infrastructure operators. All usage relationships are contractually uniform both domestically and internationally. For the relationship between freight railways and wagon keepers, the Swiss Freight Transport Act (GüTG) refers in Art. 20 to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF). Since 2006, freight railways and wagon keepers in Europe have established a multilateral contract based on this international agreement, the General Wagon Use Contract (AVV), which details the legal relationship between wagon keepers and freight railways.
Cause of the Derailment Still Unclear
The cause of the derailment is currently unclear and is being further investigated by Sust. Wheel rim fractures occur very rarely. In this case, both an external influence and material fatigue are possible. Fracture damage to operationally critical parts such as rails or wheel rims is extremely difficult to predict and has various causes. Their preventive maintenance with regular checks is standard but can reach its limits. In Switzerland, comprehensive train/wagon checks by freight railways and infrastructure operators, as well as checks by over 250 train control devices, are well established.
This is what it currently looks like in the Gotthard railway tunnel. A tube is expected to be opened for freight traffic on August 23, 2023.
Close Cooperation with the Federal Office of Transport (BAV)
How extensive the impact of such an event can be on the entire transport system and how high the damage can be is beyond question. Therefore, we maintain close cooperation with all relevant actors in rail freight transport through our industry working group “IG Safety,” our annual ECM experience exchange, and together with the Federal Office of Transport (BAV) to continuously develop the state of the art and further improve the already very high safety level. We encourage addressing the upcoming questions and measures based on the Sust report.
Only in this way can the risk of another accident be further reduced while simultaneously pursuing the constitutional goal of shifting freight transport across the Alps. It is all the more important that the Gotthard Base Tunnel can be reopened as soon as possible—especially with regard to the resumption of the Italian economy after the summer break. Otherwise, the alternative via the available and flexible road transport is unavoidable. Together with our members and industry partners, we offer to efficiently organize the diversion traffic and reconfiguration of the compositions.
About VAP, the Association of the Shipping Economy
Since 1912, VAP has been promoting rail freight transport. With an active transport policy, it advocates optimizing the economic framework conditions, rail infrastructure, and logistics locations so that rail remains a profitable connection as part of the multimodal logistics world in the future. In the interest of the environment and the living and economic space of Switzerland.
VAP represents around 300 companies from the shipping economy and logistics in Switzerland and neighboring countries. These operate 850 sidings and terminals, transshipment facilities, traction units, and 45,000 private freight wagons. Through its practice-oriented association and consulting activities, VAP also helps shippers and the logistics industry minimize the effort for freight transport by rail.
Photos: © SBB
