Norway’s rail safety agency criticised over fatal 2024 derailment

A government investigation has found serious failures in communication, training, and risk assessment by Bane Nor, Norway’s state rail infrastructure manager, following a deadly train derailment in October 2024, Dagbladet reports.

The Accident Investigation Board’s report concludes that rockfall protection measures on the Nordland Line were not executed to technical standards, and that Bane Nor removed safety barriers without conducting required risk evaluations. It also cites organisational deficiencies that prevented critical safety information from being used in preventive work, along with inadequate training for managers and administrative staff in roles affecting safety.

Rolf Ringdal, head of the Norwegian Locomotive Drivers’ Union, described the findings as severe, telling Dagbladet that members—particularly on the Nordland Line—now question whether they can trust Bane Nor’s safety protocols. “This is an extremely serious matter for our members,” he said. “When a state agency’s failure leads to a fatal accident, it cannot be understated.”

The derailment occurred near Finneidfjord in Nordland after a rockslide sent a passenger train onto the adjacent E6 highway, killing locomotive driver Rolf Henry Ankersen, 60. Ringdal noted that while Norway’s rail network remains safe for passengers, the union had repeatedly warned Bane Nor and operator SJ about risks on the stretch before the accident.

He called for improved real-time landslide warning systems, stating that current technology could reduce response times. “It’s regrettable that it took a tragedy to prompt action,” Ringdal said. The union will review the report with local representatives to determine whether to push for further safety demands.

Bane Nor’s CEO Agnete Johnsgaard-Levis acknowledged the findings in a statement, extending condolences to Ankersen’s family, colleagues, and affected passengers. The agency said it would examine the report thoroughly.

Ankersen, a locomotive driver since 1987, was remembered at his November 2024 funeral—where all trains in Norway paused in tribute—as a beloved colleague and family man, survived by five children and grandchildren.