Regarding the length freight trains, size matters. That’s the conclusion of a study that was just published in the journal. Risk analysisunder the guidance of researchers from Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business.
One of the recent incidents that inspired their investigation occurred in February last year in Ohio. Freight train 151 cars and length 2.8 kilometers derailed, releasing some of its toxic contents. Among the substances on board its cars were traces of vinyl chloride, isobutylene, monobutyl ethylene glycol and benzene. All of them are very dangerous chemical compounds, so it was necessary evacuate more than 2000 people carry out controlled combustion of goods.
Although it appears that the accident occurred due to mechanical failureThere is a suspicion that the names of the convoy could also have some connection with what happened. It has long been suspected that train length increases the risk of derailment. This may be direct or simply because if there is a mechanical failure it is more difficult to control. In any case, so far no one has provided sufficient reliable data to confirm these suspicions. On the other hand, these scientists approached this issue well.
Clear connection between accidents and train length
To conduct their study, these scientists analyzed all cases of freight train accidents that occurred in the United States. between 2013 and 2022. Been around 35,000 accidents. However, the study only used a sample of 3,000 incidents in which a derailment coincided with a crossing incident at approximately the same time in the same location.
Thus, they saw that the probability of derailment increases with increasing train length. In fact, a train of 100 cars has more than twice as likely derail than one in 50 trains. Additionally, the researchers calculated that if the U.S. rail system used only 100-car trains, a lot of time and energy would be saved, but the likelihood of derailments would increase by 11%.
The most dangerous train in the world
This is all speculation as it is actually impossible to know to what extent all of these incidents were affected by the length of the trains.
But there is a consensus that the most dangerous train in the world is the one known as iron train. This is a vehicle more than 200 carriages and about 3 kilometers in lengthwhich travels more than 700 kilometers to transport iron ore from the mines of Zouerat in Mauritania to the coastal port of Nouadhibou.
Although its main purpose is to transport this mineral, it also can carry passengers. This happens without any control as he has no locations or schedules. Travelers are waiting to find a train in the desert and board it. Once at the top, they open a gap between the black iron dust, which gets into their eyes and lungs. So they cross the desert under the scorching sun, amid unbearable roar and noise.
All this is already sufficient reason to consider it a dangerous train. But it is also estimated that several of its carriages derail 4 or 5 times a year. In fact, they are not usually collected, so the mass of rusty iron remains next to the tracks as a reminder of what could happen.
Is this due to the length of the train? Perhaps this has an effect. But, without a doubt, in this case there are many more reasons. However, it seems quite clear that trains should not be built too long. And also that if this is done, they will have to take even stricter security measures than others. IN USAwhere this recent study was carried out, work has already begun to establish this criterion in the new railway legislation.
Source: Hiper Textual
