| Hermalle-sous-Huy train collision | |
| Pushpin Map: | Belgium |
| Coordinates: | 50.5611°N 5.3436°W |
| Date: | 5 June 2016 |
| Time: | 23:03 (CEST) |
| Location: | Hermalle-sous-Huy, Belgium |
| Country: | Belgium |
| Line: | Liège–Namur railway line |
| Operator: | SNCB |
| Type: | Rear-end collision |
| Cause: | Under investigation |
| Trains: | 2 |
| Passengers: | 40 |
| Deaths: | 3 |
| Injuries: | 36 (9 serious) |
| Damage: | Two carriages and a wagon severely damaged. 15m (49feet) track and 50m (160feet) sleepers damaged |
The Hermalle-sous-Huy train collision was a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in Hermalle-sous-Huy, Belgium, on 5 June 2016. At least three people were killed and 36 others were injured, nine of them seriously.
The crash occurred at 23:03 CEST (21:03 UTC), when the passenger train crashed into the rear of the goods train while the two trains were on the same line.[1] The driver of the passenger train was one of the fatalities. All on board had been rescued from the train by 02:00 on 6 June.[2] Those less seriously injured were taken to Flône Abbey, or a nearby sports centre.[2] The passenger train comprised two SNCB Class AM96 electric multiple units.[3] It was travelling from Mouscron to Liers via Namur and Liège. The freight train had about 30 wagons in its consist.[4]
The front two carriages of unit 548 were severely damaged.[5] [6] Unit 461 was at the rear of the train.[2] It had about 40 passengers on board. The passenger train was travelling at about 90km/h when it ran into the rear of the freight train,[7] which was either stationary,[4] or travelling at 10to.[5] It was reported that an earlier lightning strike had caused disruption on the Liège–Namur railway line.[8] A signal fault had been reported at 21:30, but was said to have been cleared at the time of the accident.[7] Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted his condolences to the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.[9] He and King Philippe visited the site of the accident on 6 June.[5]
Following the accident, it was revealed that the signal that was passed at danger was not equipped with the TBL 1+ train protection system, which is capable of automatic brake application if a train passes a red signal. This system was introduced following the Buizingen train crash in 2011.[10]
The train event recorders of the passenger train were recovered from the wreckage on 8 June in an apparently undamaged condition.[11] Infrabel stated that repairs to the tracks to allow single-line working for intercity trains would be completed by 8 June, with local trains being replaced by buses. It was intended that all track repairs would be completed by the evening of 9 June,[12] which was achieved. Normal service resumed that day. Damage to the track required the replacement of 15m (49feet) of rail and 50m (160feet) of sleepers.[13]
The Railway Accident and Incident Investigation Unit of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport opened an investigation into the accident.[14]
The train event recorder revealed that the driver of the train passed a signal displaying a double yellow (caution) aspect. However, he only started to brake when the freight train came in sight.[13] The investigation resulted in an intermediate report being published in June 2017. It concluded that it was likely that the passenger train overran a red signal.[6]