Fire interventions and its difficulities in railway circumstances

Abstract

This paper will examine firefighter responses, their tools and circumstances in cases of railway accidents in Hungary, not including all track-based vehicles. For example, trams, underground and HÉV (commuter train lines) are excluded in the work. The purpose of the work is to gather available information about this topic and organise them by the basic steps of an intervention and to improve the general knowledge. Collected special information with the eye of the first
responders, even to call attention to the possible special risks and requirements, on the basis of a previous work. This paper highlights the various number of affecting factors through these tasks, which determinate success of a rescue in case of a train accident. In addition to available studies and literature we made efforts to contact leaders and experts of both fire and rescue services and railway transportation. Through the interviews we were able to gather information
from production, maintenance, prevention and responses as well. As a result of this research, we collected a comprehensive knowledge from the viewpoint of a first responder. Further researches could start in the future, for example the review of the protocol for electric separation and opportunities to improve existing systems, essential equipment and tools for the rescue in train accidents.