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New Zealand: Maintenance fault blamed for Wellington train derailment
Posted in Economy because in the U.S., regulatory agencies are supposed to ensure that inspections are performed regularly to prevent incidents like this from occurring.
Maintenance fault blamed for Wellington train derailment
BEN HEATHER
Last updated 08:55, September 18 2015
TONY AMAR/SUPPLIED
Commuter Tony Amar's photo of the damage caused when the air compressor used in the train's brakes was shot up into the floor of the passenger carriage. Amar was thrown into the air and believes that, if he had been standing in the aisle, he would not have survived.
A Wellington train derailed by faulty brakes left an eight-kilometre trail of broken machinery behind it before coming to a shuddering stop.
A Transport Accident Investigation Commission report published on Thursday found a "safety-critical" part of the brakes were left unsecured for more than 70 days before the derailment, near Wellington in May 2013.
The part eventually fell off during the morning commute from Porirua into Wellington on May 20, wedging into the belly of the train carrying 315 people, causing it to derail, and blasting a hole in the passenger carriage floor.
....
The report has found that maintenance staff failed to install a split pin that bolted the brake component to the rest of the train when they replaced the brakes. In the 10 weeks between then and the derailment, thousands of commuters travelled on the train.
THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
When part of the brakes broke free of the train and fell onto the track it caused extensive damage. These air tanks were "jack-knifed", breaking free from their mount and twisting, causing the air compress to shot into the floor of the passenger compartment.
FAIRFAX NZ
A report has found the Porirua to Wellington commuter train, pictured, derailed after a brake component that was not properly secured fell on the track.
Last updated 08:55, September 18 2015
TONY AMAR/SUPPLIED
Commuter Tony Amar's photo of the damage caused when the air compressor used in the train's brakes was shot up into the floor of the passenger carriage. Amar was thrown into the air and believes that, if he had been standing in the aisle, he would not have survived.
A Wellington train derailed by faulty brakes left an eight-kilometre trail of broken machinery behind it before coming to a shuddering stop.
A Transport Accident Investigation Commission report published on Thursday found a "safety-critical" part of the brakes were left unsecured for more than 70 days before the derailment, near Wellington in May 2013.
The part eventually fell off during the morning commute from Porirua into Wellington on May 20, wedging into the belly of the train carrying 315 people, causing it to derail, and blasting a hole in the passenger carriage floor.
....
The report has found that maintenance staff failed to install a split pin that bolted the brake component to the rest of the train when they replaced the brakes. In the 10 weeks between then and the derailment, thousands of commuters travelled on the train.
THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
When part of the brakes broke free of the train and fell onto the track it caused extensive damage. These air tanks were "jack-knifed", breaking free from their mount and twisting, causing the air compress to shot into the floor of the passenger compartment.
FAIRFAX NZ
A report has found the Porirua to Wellington commuter train, pictured, derailed after a brake component that was not properly secured fell on the track.