Major incident prevented thanks to wagon master

As the "Online-Kurier" reports today, July 4, an attentive ÖBB wagon master discovered cracks in two wheelsets on a dangerous goods train of an external company in March of this year, thus preventing a possible major railway damage event due to a possible train derailment. "This incident impressively shows how indispensable highly qualified specialists are for rail safety," says Gerhard Tauchner, chairman of the railway department in the vida trade union. Apart from possible millions in damages, Tauchner also points out that derailments triggered by similar cracks have led to numerous deaths in undetected incidents of this kind: 32 deaths were caused by a hazard train explosion in Viareggio, Italy, in 2009, and the derailment of an ICE train in 1998 in Eschede, Germany, claimed 101 lives because a wheel also broke.

Competence and experience 

"Our special thanks and appreciation go to the attentive wagon master, who defuses this potentially 'rolling bomb' with his competence and experience as well as careful working methods," Tauchner continues. At the same time, it is also clear that such a security-relevant incident must be dealt with comprehensively and independently of the responsible authority. "After such an incident, there must be no delays. The Safety Investigation Board (SUB) in the Ministry of Transport, which is provided for this purpose by law, is obliged to investigate any serious incident that could have led to an accident. This must not be left to the interpretation or discretion of the railway companies," the vida trade unionist criticizes weeks of delays until the incident was reported to the authority. The fact that the SUB did not initiate an investigation in this case is absolutely incomprehensible and highly questionable in view of comparable accidents in Europe, Tauchner adds. 

Reform needs speed, not postponement

The internal audit announced by the ministry to realign the SUB is a step in the right direction - but the first results will not come too late for Tauchner until 2026. "The safety of people, the environment and rail traffic as a whole cannot be delayed. The realignment of the investigation body must be initiated immediately and completed quickly - with clear rules and instructions for action."

Austrian standard as a European model

Last but not least, the incident for Tauchner also shows once again that the training of Austrian specialists in the railway industry is a benchmark for the whole of Europe: "The high level of qualification of the wagon masters, who take responsibility for safety on a daily basis, must also be reflected in the safety requirements under EU law. The Ministry of Transport is therefore called upon to actively work to ensure that the high Austrian training standards are not only maintained, but also further strengthened and made mandatory at European level. Safety on the railways must know no borders."