Boulzicourt english summary

On Wednesday 16 October 2019, at 4.12 pm, Regional Express Train no. 840 808 coming from Charleville-Mézières and bound for the Champagne-Ardenne TGV station, collided with a low-loader stopped on level crossing no. 70 in the commune of Boulzicourt.
This LC is equipped with automatic light and sound signals with two half barriers.
The TER, which was travelling at 120 km/h at the time of the collision, derailed but did not overturn. Of the 63 occupants of the train, 11 were slightly injured.
The driver of the heavy goods vehicle, although out of his vehicle at the time of the impact, was also slightly injured.

The direct cause of the accident was the stopping of the low-loader on the level crossing to raise the ground clearance of the semi-trailer in preparation for its crossing. This manoeuvre should have been carried out beforehand.

Several factors may have played a role in the occurrence of the accident, including the non‑preparation and non‑recognition of the route by the drivers, as well as the non‑respect of local traffic bans.

The BEA-TT formulates several recommendations concerning the preparation of these exceptional transports and the feedback from this accident.
At train level, the loss of the radio resulting from the power cut in this safety equipment following the collision is not a cause and had no consequence for this accident. However, if the course of events involving the cruiser trains present in the area had been different, it is possible to envisage an aggravation of the consequences due to the derailment of the train. The BEA-TT therefore makes a recommendation on the study of the installation on board of an energy-independent, automatically triggered collision warning system for surrounding trains.