FINAL REPORT from investigation of railway accident – fire in locomotive № 91520044202-7, serviced international fast train № 464 between the stations Zmeyovo – Tulovo on 01.12.2023

Fire in locomotive No 91520044202-7, serviced IFT No 464 on 1.12.2023.

On 01.12.2023 at 07:32 a.m., IFT No 464 arrived at Zmeyovo station in composition of 2 coaches 8 axles 88 tonnes with locomotive No 91520044202-7. The train after a stay of 1 minute departed at 7:33 a.m. There was given a model II-A order for movement with a closed exit signal due to the repair of the railway switches in Zmeyovo station. The train movement between Zmeyovo station and Tulovo station was provided by telephone mode. The train was operated by rolling stock and staff of the railway undertaking “BDZ – Passenger Services” EOOD. The train run on a daily basis as per the TOS from Dimitrovgrad station to Gorna Oryahovitsa station.

During the running of the train between the stations Zmeyovo and Tulovo before the neutral insert switched off the MAS of the locomotive. The locomotive driver stopped the train at 07:46 a.m. on km 226+ 900 and made repeated attempts to turn on the MAS, but unsuccessfully.

At 08:25 a.m., the locomotive driver informed the traffic manager on duty at Tulovo station that the locomotive was on fire and asked for assistance to transport back the train.    

At 08:55 a.m., locomotive No 91520044180-5 was sent from the third track of Tulovo station to the interstation to pull back the train with the burning locomotive from km 226+ 900 to km 226+ 642, where were located the specialised fire-fighting vehicles of RS FSaCP, which started extinguishing the fire in the locomotive.

At 11:30 a.m., the fire in the locomotive was extinguished.

From 07:46 a.m. to 14:41 p.m. the train movement between Zmeiovo and Tulovo was interrupted.

As a result of the fire, no personnel and passengers were injured, material damage to the locomotive was caused.