Urgent solutions to reduce railway accidents
(Baonghean) - In recent times, the situation of railway traffic accidents in the province has remained complicated and has tended to increase, of which up to 80% of the accidents are related to the level crossing system. Therefore, providing effective solutions to prevent and combat accidents is an urgent issue.
Increased accidents involving level crossings
Since the beginning of the year, Nghe An has had 14 railway traffic accidents (7 more than in 2018), killing 5 people (1 more) and injuring 4 people (2 more). Most of the accidents involved level crossings.
For example, the railway accident occurred at 11:09 a.m. on April 20 at km 276 + 351 of the North-South railway, passing through Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district. Thong Nhat train number SE8 was traveling from South to North. When it reached Dien Hong commune, it crashed into a truck carrying soil with license plate 37C - 302.99 driven by Ho Ba Son (23 years old, residing in hamlet 4, Quynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district) from National Highway 1A crossing a residential road to an inter-commune road.
It is known that although the residential road above has no barrier, it has a full system of signs. The accident caused the truck to be thrown about 10m, flying into the field, the driver died in the crushed cabin. The train's front window was broken on the driver's side, one train car derailed, paralyzing the railway for many hours.
 |
| Scenes of some railway accidents in the province in 2018 and early 2019. Photo: Archive |
In another case, at 7:20 p.m. on May 10, at km 271+750 of the North-South railway through Dien Yen commune, Dien Chau district, a freight train traveling from South to North collided with Mr. Nguyen Van Hon (67 years old, in hamlet 17, Dien Yen commune, Dien Chau district) driving a motorbike with license plate 37F1-500.33 across the railway, causing Mr. Hon to die on the spot. According to witnesses, the location of the accident was a self-opening walkway with a warning device that was operating normally, but because Mr. Hon did not observe, he was hit by the train.
Recently, on June 9, there were two consecutive railway accidents. The first incident occurred at 8:40 am at km 275+400 (self-opening path) in Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district. At that time, the SH3 freight train traveling in the North-South direction collided with a 4-seat taxi crossing the railway, fortunately causing no damage to people or vehicles.
At 9:37 am at km 320+445, the automatic warning level crossing through Dong Vinh ward, Vinh city, the HH62 freight train traveling in the South-North direction collided with a 1.5-ton truck with license plate 37C-295.90, driven by Mr. Pham Duc Thach (born in 1972, residing in Vinh Thinh block, Dong Vinh ward, Vinh city) crossing the railway. The accident caused the car to be thrown out of the railway gauge and severely damaged, fortunately the driver was only injured and was promptly taken to the emergency room by local people.
Necessary and urgent solution
Talking about the causes of railway traffic accidents at road-railway intersections, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thuong - Deputy Head of the Technical Supervision and Railway Traffic Safety Department, Nghe Tinh Railway Exploitation Branch, said: The basic cause is due to violations by traffic participants and drivers of road vehicles when crossing the level crossing, not paying attention to signs, level crossing signals, and signals of the crossing guards; not being able to control the speed, so they crash into the train running across the level crossing or deliberately crossing the level crossing when there is a signal for the train to arrive...
Up to 80% of accidents are related to level crossing systems.
In addition to causing serious loss of life and property, the railway industry also suffered huge property damage.
For example, the accident at 2:32 a.m. on June 30, 2018 at km 314+550 in Nghi Lien commune, Vinh city, between train SE 19 and a gas truck with license plate 29C-402.52 driven by driver Nguyen Van Bao (27 years old, residing in Thuong Dat, Nam Sach, Hai Duong) crossed the railway at a location with a sign, causing the engine to break down and unable to pull the train. Accordingly, the damage was up to 1.4 billion VND, but the car driver only received 450 million VND in compensation.
Faced with the alarming situation of railway accidents, the province has closed 39 illegal level crossings, and built access roads and fences to close 61 illegal crossings in Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh city.
In addition, 63 residential crossings were narrowed, some level crossings were set up, “Watch out for trains” signs were put up on all residential roads; speed limit signs were put up on 20 residential level crossings and 6 automatic barriers were installed at key level crossings. However, the situation of railway traffic accidents in recent times has remained complicated and has tended to increase.
 |
| The construction project is located within the protection area of the railway project in Hung Xuan commune, Hung Nguyen district. Photo: D.C. |
Discussing solutions to limit railway-related accidents, Mr. Tran Van Ke - Deputy Director of Nghe Tinh Railway Joint Stock Company, said: In addition to illegal level crossings, constructions violating the railway traffic safety corridor that have not been completely cleared are also one of the causes leading to accidents.
Therefore, recently, based on the unit's proposal, Vietnam Railway Corporation has allocated funds to install more automatic barriers and invest in more manned barriers, expected to be deployed in 2019.
According to Mr. Vo Minh Duc - Chief of Office of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, in reality, many households still brazenly build structures, make roofs, and erect advertising signs that obstruct visibility, causing insecurity for people and other vehicles traveling on the railway.
According to Mr. Duc, the most fundamental solution to reduce railway accidents is to thoroughly handle violations of railway traffic safety corridors; arrange guards at level crossings; organize barriers and build access roads to completely close illegal openings and residential roads.
On the people's side, like Mr. Nguyen Van Than, residing in Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc district, an area where the North-South railway line runs through, suggested that it is necessary to increase the sound of train whistles and signal lights at level crossings, and possibly make the lights flash. As well as include traffic safety content related to railway traffic in the driving test content.
 |
| Surveillance cameras at the railway technical and traffic safety supervision room serve to warn and remind workers to perform their duties properly. Photo: D.C. |
The above solutions are necessary, along with that, the Railway industry needs to coordinate with localities where railway lines pass through, to propagate and raise people's awareness in complying with traffic safety regulations as well as protecting traffic works and railway traffic safety corridors. Statistics, review the level crossings, resolutely not to let more arise, as well as make a specific plan and roadmap to eliminate illegal level crossings.
For cases of violations of railway safety corridors, after being handled and handed over to local authorities for management, if they still re-offend, specific responsibilities must be assigned. At the same time, the relevant authorities must strictly prosecute those who do not comply with railway safety laws and regulations, causing serious accidents...
Out of the total 95.5km of North-South railway through Nghe An (not including the 30.5km Cau Giat - Nghia Dan branch line, passing through 7 districts, towns and cities with 43 wards, communes and towns), there are 58 level crossings; of which 18 are level crossings with guards, 5 are level crossings with automatic warnings, 20 are level crossings with automatic barriers, 15 are level crossings with signs; the number of self-opening paths is 151.
