Summary in English

On the morning of 15 January 2024, a lorry with trailer, was transporting prefabricated concrete elements to a worksite at Ramseröd just outside of Uddevalla, Västra Götalands county.

When the lorry passed the level crossing at Ramseröd, the lorry got stuck over the level crossing. At the same time a passenger train 13232 was on its way from Trollhättan to Uddevalla. On board the train were a train driver, a train conductor and six passengers.

When the train approached the level crossing the train driver and the conductor noticed the lorry. The conductor left the driver cabin just before the collision. The train hit the trailer in the center and pushed the trailer like a plow for about 130 meters before the train stopped. Concrete elements were pushed into the driver's cab, spread along the track and smaller parts flew into the passenger compartment.

The train driver was fatally injured. The train conductor and five passengers were slightly injured. The lorry driver did not sustain any physical injuries

Causes of the accident

The accident was caused by the train driver not being given sufficient warning that a lorry was standing over the level crossing and not having the opportunity to stop the train or reduce speed.

At a system level, the Swedish Transport Administration, as the infrastructure manager, has not sufficiently dealt with the risks that can arise at half-barrier facilities when heavy road vehicles pass over a level crossing. Previous accidents show that the combination of trains, heavy vehicles and half-barrier facilities is an elevated risk that can lead to serious consequences for rail traffic and road users.

Safety recommendations

The Swedish Transport Administration is recommended to

• Based on today's conditions, evaluate whether there is reason to reassess the decision not to develop the function of the half-barrier facilities with a focus on how the half-barrier facility can increase the safety of the road and train traffic.
  
  
  
• Prioritize work on the introduction of a system that warns the train driver about objects at level crossings in order to increase the safety of railway staff and passengers.