| The train accident between Bjerka and Finneidfjord in 2024 | |
|---|---|
 The train passed Bjerka Station and was on its way to Finneidfjord when it crashed. | |
| Details | |
| Date | 24 October 2024 2:15 PM |
| Location | Between Bjerka Station and Finneidfjord |
| Coordinates | 66°11′16″N 13°47′31″E / 66.1878°N 13.7920°E |
| Country | Norway |
| Line | Nordland Line |
| Operator | SJ Norge |
| Incident type | Train accident |
| Cause | A rock slide triggered the accident |
| Statistics | |
| Passengers | 46 |
| Crew | The train driver, the conductor and the café host |
| Deaths | Rolf Henry Ankersen (the train driver) |
| Injured | 4 passengers slightly injured |
The train accident between Bjerka and Finneidfjord in 2024 was a train accident on the Nordland Line that took place on 24 October 2024. The accident took place between Bjerka Station and Finneidfjord. It led to the death of the train driver and four passengers who were slightly injured. The train had 46 passengers.
Both the European route E6 and Nordland Line were closed as a result of the accident. The removal of the train was completed on 5 November 2024.
The train was operated and staffed by SJ Norge.
The train
editPassenger train no. 471 consisted of:
- Locomotive Di 4.653 (derailed and overturned)
- B5-7 26041 (derailed)
- BC5 26045 (derailed)
- B5 26037 (partially derailed)
- FR5 21722
- B5 26022
The train was manned by the locomotive driver, the conductor responsible for boarding and the café host. In addition to these three, there were 46 passengers on board.[1] The train derailed 472 km north of Trondhjem.[2]
Course of events
editOn 24 October 2024, a northbound passenger train from Trondheim to Bodø derailed between Bjerka station and Finneidfjord south of Mo i Rana Station. The train left Trondheim at 7:49 AM and passed Bjerka around 2:07 PM. It was a rock slide that triggered the accident, and huge boulders were in the track.[3] [4][5]
The Norwegian police received a report about the train derailment at 2:15 PM. Emergency services and a AgustaWestland AW101 rescue helicopter arrived at the scene to evacuate the passengers. The train had 46 passangers, all of whom were evacuated at 4:30 PM.[1] It was a passenger train with five carriages. The locomotive and a wagon had derailed down a slope and almost ended up at the bottom of Europan route E6.[3][2]
On the same day, the train driver was found dead; 60-year-old Rolf Henry Ankersen from Mosjøen.[6] Three were taken to hospital and one to emergency room, but they were not injured in a life-threatening manner.[3]
Helgeland Hospital Trust went into red alert, but soon returned to normal operations. Reception centers were set up for evacuees and relatives on Scandic Meyergården hotell in Mo i Rana and in Mosjøen. Hemnes municipality and Bane NOR had set up a crisis team and the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority sent a team to the accident site on 25 October.[3][1][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Jåma (foto), Naina Helén; Løkkevik, Ole; Øvrebø, Emma Fondenes; Medby, Marius; Bugge, Stella; Brekke, Anja Ariel Tørnes; Hansen, Stine Gaustadnes; Farestvedt, Ingrid Bjørndal; Breivik, Espen Moe (2024-10-24). "Togavsporing i Nordland: Lokfører omkom". VG (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b Medby, Marius; Hansen, Stine Gaustadnes; Løkkevik, Ole; Øvrebø, Emma Fondenes (2024-10-24). "Passasjerer på toget på Nordlandsbanen: – Et vanvittig leven". VG (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b c d Hestenes, Sunniva Grimstad (2024-10-24). "Tog spora av på Nordlandsbanen". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "Train carrying 55 people derails on Norway's north coast, killing at least 1 person and injuring 4". MyStateline. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Sviggum, Silje Kathrine (2024-10-25). "Så toget komme mot seg ned fjellsiden: – Måtte stå på bremsen og sette bilen i revers". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Hestenes, Sunniva Grimstad (2024-10-25). "Togavsporingen i Nordland: Rolf Henry Ankersen omkom". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Ording, Oda (2024-10-24). "Dødelig togulykke: - Har varslet om strekningen". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-11-04.