Derailment of IDFT No 46660 between Lyubenovo Transmission Stations – Radnevo on 3 February 2024
IDFT No 46660, consisting of 32 wagons, 64 axles, 576 metres, 898 tonnes, operated by locomotive No 91523186012-2 of the railway undertaking DB Cargo Bulgaria EOOD, departed at 06:50 a.m. on 3 February 2024 from the Kapikule border station in the Republic of Türkiye. At Kapikule station, the railway undertaking DB Cargo Bulgaria EOOD’s wagon inspector carried out a technical inspection of the train. The train arrived at 07:15 a.m. at the Svilengrad – Republic of Bulgaria border station. After the arrival of the train at Svilengrad station, a customs and border check were carried out, as well as a replacement of the locomotive with locomotive No 91521688030-1. A "D" test of the automatic train brakes has been carried out before the train departed.
IDFT No 46660 departed from Svilengrad station at 08:54 a.m., served by locomotive No91521688030-1 with a locomotive driver and an assistant locomotive driver, employees of DB Cargo Bulgaria EOOD. For the passage of the train through Radnevo station, the traffic manager on duty at 10:10 a.m. has ordered with a phonegram of a switchman/level crossing guard in Post No 2 for the arrival of IDFT No 46660 on a second free main track.
At 10:17 a.m., a switchman/level crossing guard in Post No 2 ordered a route and opened an entry signal for a second track.
When IDFT No 46660 entered the second track at Radnevo station, the traffic manager on duty noticed severe dustiness and meandering of the last two wagons of the train. The locomotive driver sent the train pulling and made a quick stop.
The traffic manager on duty notified the train dispatcher of the accident and provided information to the national emergency number 112.
As a result of the derailment, material damage was caused to the rail track, the railway switches and the signalling equipment in Radnevo station, as well as to the derailed two wagons. There were no injured personnel.
From 10:20 a.m. on 3 February 2024 to 15:00 p.m. on 4 February 2024, train traffic was interrupted in the section Simeonovgrad – Nova Zagora.
From 3 p.m. on 4 February 2024, train traffic between Lyubenovo Transmission Station and Radnevo in the derailment area was restored at 25 km/h, traffic through Radnevo Station was restored on a fourth diversion track at a speed of up to 15 km/h and traffic on the Simeonovgrad-Nova Zagora section was restored.