Péronnas english summary and recommendations

Summary

On Friday 15 January 2021, at 2.07 pm, regional express train no. 889 474 coming from Lyon and bound for Bourg-en-Bresse struck a light vehicle on level crossing no. 44 in Péronnas.
This level crossing is equipped with automatic light and sound signals with two half barriers.
The train, which was travelling at a speed of 134 km/h (83 mph) at the time of the collision, did not derail. None of the 146 people on board were injured.
The driver of the car, who was in her vehicle at the time of the collision, died on impact.

The direct cause of the accident was the presence of the light vehicle on the tracks when the train arrived.

The investigations carried out in the judicial enquiry did not identify any evidence to support the hypothesis that the collision was the result of a deliberate act by the driver of the car.

The BEA-TT considers that, at the time of the collision, the crossing half-barrier on the approach side of the vehicle was probably in the lowered position, in contact with the vehicle’s boot.
Due to the extensive damage to the vehicle, it was not possible at the time of publication of this report to retrieve data from the on-board electronics to determine the kinematics of the vehicle prior to the collision. The only traces left by the vehicle on the road are at the level of the railway track and are the result of the impact.
Despite the lack of certainty in the sequence of events, the BEA-TT has proposed four recommendations to improve safety.

The BEA-TT considers that the management of priorities between road users, the geometric conditions for approaching and crossing the railway track and the visibility of the equipment on the level crossing, and in particular the flashing red light on the right, could be improved. Three recommendations are made for these purposes.

The BEA-TT also formulates a recommendation on the awareness of train drivers regarding the issues of initialisation of the ground-to-train radio, particularly in the vicinity of the level crossings.

Recommendations

Recommendation R1 to the City of Péronnas
Regulate and signal in warning and position the rules of priority between road users crossing the railway tracks on the level crossing no. 44.
Study, in association with SNCF Réseau, the French rail network manager :
1) the increase in the width of the road at level crossing no. 44 ;
2) Increasing the radii of the last approach road bends on this level crossing, in order to decrease the road crossing angle to improve visibility on the railway.

Recommendation R2 to the City of Péronnas
In the direction of approach to level crossing no. 44 from the west, clear the visibility of the level crossing equipment by cutting down or having cut down the vegetation currently present in the vicinity of the last bend and then ensuring regular maintenance of the road shoulders.

Recommendation R3 to SNCF Réseau
In the direction of approach to level crossing no. 44 from the east, taking into account the work carried out since the accident and the proposed improvements to the level crossing, change the orientation of the right-hand flashing red light if necessary so that it can be seen from far and near.

Recommendation R4 to all train operating companies
Make train drivers aware of the priority that must be given, when conditions allow, to initiate the ground-to-train radio and more generally to carry out actions that require them to take their eyes off the railway track and catenary, outside geographical areas with level crossings, or any other known risk factor.
When designing or reconditioning equipment, take into account the objective of reducing the duration of actions during which the train driver is no longer able to observe the railway track and catenary.

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