Electric locomotive derailment at Kushva station, Sverdlovsk Railway, October 26, 2025
Tel. No. ISKh-27488 dated November 7, 2025
A formalistic approach to complying with mandatory requirements for admitting traction rolling stock onto the infrastructure of JSC Russian Railways by the management and employees of the TChE and SLD led to another traffic safety violation on October 26, 2025. The violations uncovered during the investigation into the circumstances of the incident indicate a lack of understanding among regional and line-level management of the potential scale of the consequences of a negligent approach to locomotive access to the infrastructure.
On October 26, 2025, at 7:42 pm Moscow time, at the station Upon the arrival of freight train No. 3552 at Kushva SVERD, six wheel sets of the VL11M series electric locomotive No. 240/239, registered at TChE Smychka SVERD T, derailed at switch No. 104. Under the control of the engineer, the Serov-Sortirovochny SVERD T.
Circumstances:
The investigation revealed that while the locomotive's head section was coasting along switch No. 104 at a speed of 14 km/h, the engineer, feeling an unusual vibration, applied the emergency brakes. During the inspection, derailment of all wheelsets on the first section of locomotive No. 240 and two wheelsets on the second section of electric locomotive No. 239 was discovered.
An analysis of the current operation and repairs of the electric locomotive in 2025 revealed that the locomotive had been operating for a long time with unacceptable wheel tread parameters, such as a sharp flange roll, metal buildup on the flange, and an unacceptable flange steepness.
A technical condition report for the locomotive following maintenance (TO-4) at the Kushva locomotive depot in September 2025 was not compiled. Information on the results of wheel set geometric parameter measurements was not entered into the repair log (TU-28) or the wheel set tread condition and measurement logs (TU-17, TU-18). Furthermore, the responsible locomotive depot official unlawfully changed the technical condition report date from August 13, 2025, to September 28, 2025, without changing the actual wheel set parameter measurements.
During maintenance (TO-2) of the locomotive at the Sverdlovsk locomotive depot on October 12, 2025, scheduled wheel set tread parameter measurements were also not performed, and the responsible locomotive depot official entered false information into the automated system.
During the acceptance and delivery of the locomotive, the locomotive crews inspected the wheelsets for formal reasons. No visually detectable defects, such as sharp flange ridges and metal buildup on the tire flange, were detected.
Causes:
The primary and immediate cause of the derailment was the prolonged operation of the electric locomotive with wheelset defects such as sharp flange ridges, metal buildup on the flange, and unacceptable slope values (dangerous flange shape) of less than 6 mm.
Responsible part:
1. Based on the above, all T, TChE:
1.1. Organize and conduct, in accordance with established procedures, an unscheduled briefing on the admitted traffic safety violation.
1.2. Display visual examples of locomotive wheel set faults identified during acceptance of the rolling stock in the pre-trip briefing rooms and the "Machinist's LK" automated system, in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Instructions for the Inspection, Survey, Repair, and Assembly of Locomotive Wheel Sets of JSC Russian Railways, approved by JSC Russian Railways Order No. 805/r dated April 14, 2025.
1.3. As part of the Safety Culture Days, communicate the circumstances and root causes of the admitted traffic safety violation to the TChE and SLD teams.
1.4. In November 2025, conduct field inspections of the frequency and procedure for measuring the geometric parameters of locomotive wheel set treads upon admission to operation after all types of repair and maintenance (except for TO-1) of locomotives.
1.5. In November 2025, organize random inspections of control measurements of the geometric parameters of wheel set tires on locomotives entering the PTOL, paying particular attention to those with values close to critical, as measured since the last tire measurement.
1.6. Organize the compilation of lists of personnel involved in the formation, inspection, repair, and operation of locomotive wheel sets, and conduct random inspections of the correct authorization of employees authorized to perform these tasks in the SLD. Ensure that the SLD and TChE managers have these lists.
2. All Ts are to submit interim reports on the work performed by 12:00 a.m. Moscow time. November 10, 2025, November 14, 2025, November 21, 2025, and November 28, 2025, via EASD to the address "Alexander Vadimovich Chugaynov" in the prescribed form. Submit the final report by 9:00 AM Moscow time on December 2, 2025.
3. I assign personal oversight of the execution of this telegram to T.
CZ-CT D.V. Pegov
