{"id":508329,"date":"2026-08-14T23:48:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=73524"},"modified":"2026-08-14T23:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T13:48:38","slug":"freight-train-derailment-investigation-report-points-finger-at-sncf-reseau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=508329","title":{"rendered":"Freight train derailment investigation report points finger at SNCF R\u00e9seau"},"content":{"rendered":"

The investigation report into the derailment of a freight train transporting 23 empty wagons between Fismes and La Fert\u00e9-Milon, in north-east France, in October 2024, has highlighted \u201ca very serious flaw in SNCF R\u00e9seau\u2019s monitoring and security system.\u201d The French rail infrastructure manager has 90 days to review the report and submit its response.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The train, operated by Rail Logistics Europe subsidiary Captain France, using a EURO 4000 locomotive was the first to resume services on the line following a 20-day closure due to extreme weather. \u201cThe line runs on an embankment; the train derailed in an area where the track bed had collapsed. The locomotive and the first wagon tipped over onto their left sides, and the second wagon also derailed. The train driver was uninjured. Both tracks were severely damaged over a distance of more than 200 metres,\u201d the report by the Bureau d’Enqu\u00eates sur les Accidents de Transport Terrestre (BEA-TT) noted.<\/p>\n

It identified Storm Kirk as the main cause with peak rainfall in the area of 70 to 100 mm over a 24-hour period throughout the day of 9 October, and then during the night of 9\u201310 October. This additional water, falling on ground that was already saturated after several weeks of heavy rain, caused the River Ourcq and one of its tributaries, to flood.<\/p>\n

\u2018Breaches caused by flooding\u2019<\/h2>\n

On 10 October, a helicopter patrol by the Gendarmerie alerted SNCF R\u00e9seau to the presence of \u201cmudslides on the track between Fismes and La Fert\u00e9-Milon\u201d. Safety measures and subsequent investigations on the line were apparently carried out correctly by SNCF R\u00e9seau, in accordance with the regulations in force.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the investigations carried out on 11 October failed to identify the breaches caused by the flooding. This failure to carry out the required on-site inspections led to the lifting of the rail traffic restrictions. The first train sent through the area on 30 October derailed,\u201d the BEA-TT observed.<\/p>\n

It continued: \u201cThis failure was a major contributing factor to the derailment. It represents a very serious flaw in SNCF R\u00e9seau\u2019s monitoring and safety system.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Significant gaps in the track’<\/h2>\n

The report went on to note that the train driver, who had been given instructions to “drive by sight\u201d throughout the entire section between Fismes and La Fert\u00e9-Milon, did not apply these instructions correctly. What\u2019s more, unusually, the driver was alone in the cab. He realised too late that there were significant gaps in the track, and braking was insufficient to bring the train to a halt before the visible obstacle. \u201cThis was the last opportunity to stop the train before it derailed. It was an aggravating factor in the derailment,\u201d the BEA-TT added.<\/p>\n

Recommandations<\/p>\n

The report makes a number of recommendations including a review risk assessments during detailed site visits and the installation of monitoring equipment on structures where necessary. It also called for the implementation, in event of severe weather warnings, of rapid inspection methods using video and\/or satellite imagery to identify more precisely the locations to be visited during foot patrols.<\/p>\n

SNCF R\u00e9seau has 90 days to review the report and submit its response.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The investigation report into the derailment of a freight train transporting 23 empty wagons between Fismes and La Fert\u00e9-Milon, in north-east France, in October 2024,\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12036,196,343,471,47,98],"tags":[12634],"class_list":["post-508329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-captrain-france","category-derailment","category-infrastructure","category-news","category-rail-news","category-sncf-reseau","tag-railfreight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t