Asbestos in Aging Railcars and Tracks

Most Kiwis are aware that from the 1930s until the 1990s, asbestos was used in home building materials. From vinyl flooring, insulation, and roofing, to textured ceilings and wall linings, it’s incredible how widespread its use became. However, did you know that asbestos is also in our transport network? Even all these years later, we are still fighting a battle against asbestos exposure.

Aging railcars and tracks, and even some new trains, can contain asbestos. And given that asbestos is still the single biggest cause of work-related fatalities, it’s not a revelation to take lightly.

Why Was Asbestos Used in the Rail Industry – and Where?

Asbestos was used in the rail industry for the same reason it was used in several other industries. It’s affordable, versatile, and had the unique ability to be able to resist heat and prevent fires. When you’re building and operating steam and diesel locomotives, having those two features is essential. Asbestos ticked those boxes.

Asbestos was also used in the creation of the trains’ insulation, rail ties, steam engines, floor tiles, sealing cement, and brake pads and lining. There are very few old trains that don’t contain asbestos.

Anyone operating or working on locomotives before 1980 were put at the most considerable risk. From general maintenance workers, inspectors, and locomotive engineers and fliers, to machinists and general railroad workers, they were all categorised under “at-risk trade”.

What About New Trains?

We stopped using asbestos-containing building materials in the 1990s, but what about the rail industry? It’s not quite that clean-cut. For example, when KiwiRail ordered 48 locomotives from China, they were asked “repeatedly” not to use asbestos in their trains.

Despite that order, though, 40 out of those 48 were found to be contaminated in 2014. The problem lay in the metal sheeting being sprayed in asbestos, as well as in the gaskets of the braking systems.

Chinese engineers were flown over to correct the problem under a 25-year warranty, but five years on, and after using those trains in the process, the issue had not been rectified.

And Train Parts Containing Asbestos?

Alongside new trains being built with asbestos, old trains still contain asbestos-contaminated parts. In 2018, a Hutt Valley workshop staff member was exposed to the hazardous substance while refurbishing a locomotive. The gaskets, also known as brake insulators, were identified as a hazard by KiwiRail in 2016.

However, unlike all other parts that contained asbestos, the gasket wasn’t labelled with a sticker to show the risk. With new regulations, all asbestos-containing parts on trains had to be removed by an advanced asbestos removal contractor before workshop staff could work on them.

Fortunately, the worker identified the part as one that could potentially contain asbestos and did not touch or handle it. That meant his risk of exposure was low.

What Happens to Old Trains with Asbestos?

While KiwiRail and government officials are slowly phasing out asbestos in rail industry stock, there are still question marks over what to do with old trains.

For example, in 2018, 50 old Wellington asbestos-contaminated commuter trains were being buried in the city dump because it was the cheapest option. They were stripped of their motors, bogies, and other recoverable scraps, and were then sent to the landfill.

As there was asbestos in the anti-drum coatings of the inside walls, there was no cost-effective way to salvage all of the scraps. As a result, the carriages had to be crushed and buried.

Initially, the trains were destined for South Africa. Already, 32 cars of 16 units were sent to South Africa to be reused in service. However, the deal for the remaining 50 fell through due to the high shipping costs.

Dealing with Asbestos in Any Industry

Asbestos exposure is not only our country’s single-leading cause of fatalities but the world’s number one cause, too. Around 90,000 people will lose their life to asbestos-related illnesses every year. Then, another 125 million people remain at risk of exposure.

Whatever your line of work, be it the building and construction industry, automotive, rail, or something else, it’s paramount to take this hazardous but naturally occurring mineral seriously. If you suspect asbestos is a risk, seek help from a professional asbestos removal company like Chemcare. They can both test for exposure and undertake the asbestos removal process.