ATSB – RO-2018-004
killed one person, injured 110, and resulted in major damage to the station. On 4 January 2017, an accident on the Long Island Rail Road at the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn, New York, injured 108 people. Both accidents involved passenger trains that struck buffer stops and crashed into stations. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation determined that the major contributory factor in both accidents was driver fatigue resulting from undiagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea.[1]
Safety actions implemented
A number of organisations have advised the ATSB that, in response to this incident, the following proactive safety actions have been implemented:
Sydney Trains
Richmond Station
- A temporary speed restriction of 20 km/h, from East Richmond (60.200 km) to the buffer stops was put in place after the incident. Circuitry alterations were implemented so that the train stop on RD5 would provide a speed check at that point. Buffer stop redesign measures have been completed to meet compliance with the NSW Asset Standards Authority (ASA) buffer stop standard.[2]
- The new Platform 1 buffer concrete block was installed in April 2019. The Platform 2 buffer concrete block is planned for installation in January 2020. The buffers are planned for installation in February 2020.
- Sydney Trains has completed a signalling upgrade at Richmond, including intermediate train stops to control the approach speed. Planning has commenced for a platform extension at Richmond. Construction is expected to be completed in 2020.
Other locations and network-wide recommendations
- The remaining high-risk category locations (Central Platform 9, Macarthur, Carlingford) were assessed and speed reductions have been introduced in the short term to reduce the level of risk at these locations. Further control measures including intermediate train stops are being evaluated for installation at Macarthur and Central Platform 9 as part of the annual works program for 2019-2020. No further risk mitigation measures have been implemented at Carlingford due to the imminent closure of this line in January 2020.
- Sydney Trains' Asset Management Division has incorporated a program to assess and where appropriate upgrade buffer stops in its Annual Works Program, utilising the Buffer Stop Risk Index Prioritisation modelling for implementation sequence. Liaised with ASA to improve the process for issuing new infrastructure and rolling stock standards, adding a process where, through stakeholder consultation and risk assessment, existing equipment and its interfaces to the new standard/strategies are reviewed.
- Sydney Trains have created a centralised database for equipment concession against the issued ASA standards.
Downer
- Downer have undertaken investigations into the performance of the A-set in the Richmond incident. They have also completed mathematical crash modelling to provide better understanding of the Richmond collision with respect to the design’s ability to manage crash energy levels.
- ↑ National Transportation Safety Board (2017) Special Investigation Report, End-of-track collisions at Terminal Stations Hoboken, New Jersey, 29 September, 2016 and Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, New York, 4 January 2017. NTSB/SIR18/01.
- ↑ T HR TR 25000 ST Buffer Stops, version 1.0, issue date: 10 July 2017.
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