An AcciMap analysis on the China-Yongwen railway accident

Abstract

An AcciMap is a multi-layered causal diagram that arranges the various causes of an accident in terms of their causal remoteness from the accident. This chapter applied an AcciMap to analyse the China-Yongwen railway accident for a more comprehensive view of the accident. Some improvement measures were proposed to prevent similar accidents in the future on the base of this analysis. With the focus of the railway conditions, railway stations, dispatching office, the train drivers and the maintenance personnel, an AcciMap analysis was performed to describe the entire accident trajectory and assemble the contributing factors into a coherent causal diagram that illustrates the interrelationships between them. As a result, some new causes were recognized compared with other analysis methods based on STAMP. Through this study, more critical points and suggestions are provided for enhancing the safety management of Motor Train Unit.