[5] A similar accident in January 2013 at Neuhausen, on the same line, was caused by outmoded safety equipment that allowed a train to leave the station against a signal.

[10] The head of the train drivers' union (Verband Schweizer Lokführer und Anwärter [de] VSLF) suggested as a possible cause operator confusion because when Rafz station was renovated in 2011, the applicable signal was installed on the right rather than the left, where such signals are usually positioned.

He proposed a rule that trains departing after a change of direction limit their initial speed to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).

[11][12][14] Although human error was identified as a main factor of the accident, the SBB determined that none of the drivers were to face any measures of labour law, and both the trainees involved were able to finish their training.

[12] In a press release, SBB indicated that they would investigate whether they could speed up the nationwide implementation of the European Train Control System Level 2, which would prevent situations of this kind, and which was set to be rolled out from 2025 onwards.

[15][16] Additionally, an app, the development of which had been started as a result of the Granges-près-Marnand train crash, was rolled out in August after the accident in Rafz, which warns drivers before they pass signals at danger.