Abstract: In order to identify the cause of an accident, find safety hazards, prevent similar accidents from happening again and improve the safety of railway operation, the current situations of railway accident investigation in the developed countries including the United States, Japan, France, the UK and Australia were researched and analyzedfrom the aspects of the establishment of investigation institutions, legal basis, investigation principles, procedure, techniques and report content. Based on studying some typical cases of railway accidents investigated by institutions in France, the UK and Japan, their advanced experience, features and advantages in railway accident investigation were summarized. By comparing the similarities and differences between China and abroad, the suggestion of using other countries′ investigation methods, analysis of causes and summary of experience for reference and improving the proficiency of China′s railway accident investigation is proposed.

Key words: railway accidents, accidents investigation reports, experiences of foreign countries, accident cases, revelations