Investigations on the situation on railroad crossings / day have begun

The Office has decided to open an investigation into the railway crossings with the highest number of incidents.

The Bureau of Investigation, analyzing the statistics of recent incidents on railway crossings, has found that the number of incidents on the railway crossing has increased significantly over the last three years. Conversely, the number of accidents containing fatalities or victims is relatively small.

The office points out that the largest number of incidents in the Latvian Railway Network in 2024 took place at the railway crossing No. 902, located on the Tornakalns-Olaine railway section, No. 907, located on the Olaine-Fena section, as well as No. 924, which is located at Riga Passenger Station. In the three months of this year, eight incidents occurred at the railway crossing No. 902.

Uldis Reimanis, director of TNGIIB, points out that the number of accidents on railway crossings is worsening every year. The number of incidents on railway crossings increased by 25% compared to the previous year. In the first months of this year, more than 50 accidents occurred.

« When looking superficially, it may seem that cases of passenger or truck stops on the railway crossing or knock down the automatic barrier of the crossing only cause material loss to the owner of the level crossing, but each such incident can cause a serious consequence of the accident. Infrastructure, « explains Reimanis.

In addition, he adds that in such cases, the train often needs to be forced to brake to avoid collision, and may endanger the passengers on the train.

Thus, TNGIIB has decided to open an investigation that will assess the level crossings with the highest number of accidents, analyzing the regulatory framework for the crosswalks, the equipment and technical condition of the roads and railway crossings, auto traffic organization and other factors to determine the causes of these incidents and recommendations to the responsible parties.

At the same time, the Bureau invites all residents who use or live nearby as drivers or pedestrians on a daily basis, provide the Bureau information on observed events or their possible reasons. The information received by TNGIIB will be collected and used with the facts obtained by the parties involved in the investigation to improve the safety of all road users in their daily routine.

The Bureau of Transport Accidents and Incident Investigation aims to implement the function of public administration in the field of investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents, serious railway accidents and serious investigation into investigations, as well as in the field of marine accidents and incidents.