Mikawashima train crash

In the railway accident Mikawashima (Japanese三河 岛 事故, Mishikawashima jiko ) on May 3, 1962 derailed and collided with three trains, where 160 people died. This was one of the most consequential train accidents in the history of Japan.

Starting position

The accident occurred at 21 clock 36 in the Mikawashima station in Higashi - Nippori, a district of the district Arakawa in Tokyo on the Joban line of the Japanese National Railways ( JNR ), which was extremely busy. In the accident, three trains were involved. The first train, No. 287, was a freight train, according to the Mito was coming from a branch line from Tokyo go. The branch line led to the main track of the Joban line. This entrance was secured by a signal and an associated protection switch.

The accident

The freight train ran over the " stop" signal area and was automatically diverted to the protection switch from the main line. It derailed at the end of the backup track. The locomotive and a tank car plunged her next to it in such a way that they lay in the clearance space of the adjacent track track.

The second train, No. 2117H, a railcar and suburban train, which was traveling from Ueno by Toride, also left by 21 clock 36 has the Mikawashima Station collided with the derailed vehicles stuck in the loading gauge of the adjacent track track and derailed likewise. 25 injured were the result. The travelers operated the Türnotöffnungen, got out and began to walk back to the station. The officials in the switchboard of the station were engaged in the first accident so that they forgot to check whether else approached a train accident site and to warn them.

So it could happen that the third train, No. 2000H, who came from the opposite direction, in the derailed train pulled into second. It was the first car was smashed, three more cars derailed. This in turn killed and injured many travelers who had rescued from the second train and the train station ran back.

Follow

A total of 160 people died, 296 were injured.

The JNR presented after the accident, their security policies to: After an accident were - trains stopped basically in its environment - whatever its importance. In addition, an automatic train control with emergency brake for trains has been installed up to April 1966 nationwide that have a " stop" signal at danger passed. For this, the railway infrastructure was equipped with induction loops 43,000 and 13,000 vehicles with induction receivers. Further, a radio distress signal was introduced, prompting the trains after a dangerous event within one to two kilometers to stop.

The Joban Line received new, adapted to become much more traffic operating rules. Next it was structurally adapted: The passenger and freight transport were separate tracks.

Next worth knowing

Only one and a half years later there was the railway accident in Yokohama (1963 ) on 9 November 1963 another serious accident which was running quite similar. However, the initially derailed freight train had no " stop" signal at danger over, but freight cars were derailed due to technical problems.