On Tuesday 17 January, a work train collided with a semi-trailer that had got stuck on the level crossing at Brøttum station on the Dovrebanen. The driver of the semi-trailer made it to safety and no one was injured. But it is not the first time a dangerous situation has arisen there. news has gained access to notices of deviations that Bane Nor has registered for the level crossing. It shows that in 2003 there was a similar accident where a train ran into a lorry. In addition, it has been recorded that lorries have been stuck in the track six other times in the last 20 years. Registered incidents at Brøttum station Notices of deviation: January 2003: Lorry stuck at Brøttum level crossing. No damage. February 2003: A train hit a lorry at the Brøttum level crossing. January 2004: Trailer was stuck at Brøttum level crossing. No damage. February 2004: Lorry stuck on the track at the Brøttum level crossing. No damage. March 2014: Lorry trapped at Brøttum level crossing. Drove through the barrier (as he should!). March 2017: Truck stuck at Brøttum level crossing. No damage. March 2017: Reported about loose snow on/near the Brøttum level crossing which causes the trucks to get stuck January 2018: Truck gets stuck on the Brøttum level crossing. No damage. April 2021: Tractor trapped at Brøttum level crossing. The driver himself called the police. No damage. In addition, Bane Nor informs us of the following incidents where there has been damage to infrastructure: Crashed boom arms when the booms are down and trains are expected to pass: 23.2.2004 13.3. 2018 24/06/2022 Downed catenary: 28/08/2009 Truck with crane arm raised drove over the level crossing and tore down catenary. Had to call to stop the train Driver Jan Erik Løkken drives over the railway line at Brøttum almost every day to pick up goods. He believes the level crossing can be challenging in winter because there are sharp turns both in and out of the crossing. In addition, there is an uphill straight after you have passed. A few years ago things also went wrong for Jan Erik. – I got to the top of the hill and couldn’t get the trailer over. Then it stopped and the trailer was left on the track, he says. At the transition there is a sign with a notification number for Rail Nor. Jan Erik called and was told. So it went well. – But you get a bit busy, you do it, he says. Løkken says he thought there was going to be an accident on the spot. He believes that something should definitely be done to improve the level crossing. – Actually, it should have been moved and done without a plan, he says. Acknowledging that something must be done According to an overview from Bane Nor, there are 1,685 level crossings on sections where trains run in Norway. 350 crossings have road safety systems, while 1,335 are without road safety systems (figures from March 2022). On average, 25 unsecured level crossings have been closed each year in recent years. The level crossing at Brøttum has both barriers and is light and sound regulated. THE BRAKES: The driver of the work train must have seen what was about to happen and started braking before the collision with the semi-trailer. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Terje Dalbak is a safety and quality advisor at Bane Nor Innlandet. He states that the road safety system was working as it should when the accident occurred. He still believes that the transition at Brøttum is problematic. – It must be said that it is a challenging level crossing in that it is mainly heavy transport that goes over there. And then we have some challenges in relation to geometry on the road over the level crossing. So yes, challenging, he summarizes to news. Dalbak states that it is mainly in winter that there are problems at the site. Bane Nor will now review the routines for clearing snow on the crossing. Safety advisor Terje Dalbak at Bane Nor Innlandet. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Plans have previously been made for a so-called unplanned crossing at Brøttum. This was estimated to cost between NOK 20–30 million. But the solution was not prioritized. – So it would be natural that in the event of such an incident, which is so serious, we would take forward plans again and perhaps see and assess new needs for measures, says Dalbak. – What do you think should actually be done in this place? – It is clear that the optimum and our desire with all level crossings, which is one of the biggest risks we have on the railway, is to get rid of the level crossings and achieve plan-free solutions. But in many cases it is a matter of cost, he says. Accident Investigation Board collects information The police have started an investigation into the accident on Tuesday 17 January. There was extensive material damage after the work train from Spordrift AS drove into the semi-trailer. The driver of the train must have seen what was about to happen and started braking. But the train did not have time to stop completely. The Dovran railway was closed for many hours after the accident. The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board informs news that they are now gathering information about the Brøttum accident. The Accident Investigation Board is considering whether they want to carry out a separate investigation into the collision. INVESTIGATION: The police have started an investigation into the accident that happened on the morning of 17 January this year at Brøttum in Ringsaker. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news
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Several times, trucks have been stuck on the level crossing at Brøttum where there was an accident recently – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
