Wikipedia:Notability (railway incidents)

Definition of "railway"

The meaning of "railway" in this instance shall be heavy rail, rapid transit, light rail, tramway, monorail and maglev systems, including narrow gauge, miniature and heritage railways.

Discussion

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Notability guidelines

Own article

An accident or incident shall be considered notable enough to sustain its own article if: –

• A1: it results in the death of a passenger travelling on a train (deaths from natural causes occurring on a train journey excepted).
• A2: it results in the death of a member of traincrew (meaning someone directly concerned with the operation of the train and being on board the train as part of their work)
• A3: it results in legislation imposing a change of railway operation
• A4: it results in the blockage of a railway line for a week or more, or the permanent closure of a railway line.
• A5: it is the result of the collapse of a bridge or tunnel, whether or not a death occurs.
• A6: it is the result of terrorist activity, including hijacking, whether or not a death occurs.

In all cases, the accident should also be mentioned in the article on the line where it occurred and the article covering the (nearest) station where it occurred.

Possible own article / Section of another article

An accident or incident, if it does not meet any 'A' criteria, may be considered notable enough to sustain its own article if: –

• B1: it results in the death of a member of railway staff who is not train crew or track maintenance staff.
• B2: it results in the death of a member of the public who was not engaged in a railway related activity.
• B3: it is the result of a landslip onto the line
• B4: it is the result of error on the part of a member of railway staff
• B5: it resulted in the mass evacuation of a populated area due to the risk posed by a hazardous load (e.g. derailment of a propane gas tanker train and the tanks leak).

An accident meeting one or more of these criteria should be included in an article covering the line it occurred and the article covering the (nearest) station where it occurred, even if it is judged not to be sufficiently notable to sustain its own article.

Non-notable accidents

An accident or incident, if it does not meet any 'A' or 'B' criteria, will generally be considered non-notable if: –

• C1: it results in the death of a track worker or lookout
• C2: it results in the death of a person intent on committing suicide or someone closely associated with that person.
• C3: it results in the death of a member of the public crossing the line, whether legally or not.

Accidents meeting the above criteria generally should not be mentioned on Wikipedia, even in a list of railway accidents. However, it is recognised that there will be occasional exceptions to the above non-notability criteria, to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. An accident meeting the above criteria and deemed notable enough to either sustain its own article or be mentioned in an article on a line or station should also be mentioned in a list of railway accidents

Accidents not fitting other criteria

• D1: an accident or incident not fitting any 'A', or 'B' criteria, and not falling under 'C' criteria, shall be considered on a case-by-case basis as to its notability (or lack thereof).