Colin Wheeler
This year will see the celebration of the first commercial railway – the Stockton to Darlington – which was the forerunner of our present guided transport system. We have father and son, George and Robert Stephenson to thank and I look forward to the planned activities which include running in steam the replica of the ‘Rocket’ locomotive.
As I write I find myself surprised by each change of minister in the new Government. The timing of the election and frequency of subsequent resignations is not good for our railways. The formation and setting up of the Derby-based Great British Railways (GBR) should be a top priority. Using the regions to improve focus and speed up change are good intentions. I believe we need high speed railways between Scotland, the North of England, and London as they are best for the environment. Arguably we should aim to reduce if not eliminate passenger and freight flights in our islands.
There are claims that artificial intelligence (AI) is the way to solve most problems, and this may prove to be correct in the long run. Using AI to speed and simplify train driving and signalling as well as the inspection of the infrastructure makes sense. But it will take time and there will be upfront costs. Arguably, using AI to help operate commuter services and haul freight should be cost effective. However, the fatal accident on the London Underground on 26 December is a reminder that new dangers may arise.
Years ago, I remember writing about tram and rail incidents and accidents involving passengers being caught by closing doors and dragged along. Having a personal interest in the Manchester Metrolink system I wrote about their experiences. At one of the recent annual Rail Media Safety Summits, I was surprised when the guest speaker from London Underground made little reference to any trapped and dragged incidents at their stations.
However, back in September 2018 a dreadful accident occurred which should have been a wake-up call for us all. It happened at Borehamwood Station. A retired nurse with a walking frame, luggage, and a Shih Tzu dog called Jonty, boarded a 12-car train, but the doors closed trapping the dog by its lead outside the carriage. The dog was killed when the train moved off and re-entered the tunnel.
Trapped and dragged on London Underground
More recently there have been a series of reported incidents involving London Underground. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) announced on Christmas Eve its intention to investigate and publish a report of an accident that took place on the Elizabeth Line on 24 November last year at Ealing Broadway Station. It was around 00:07 when the passenger’s hand became trapped in the closing door. The passenger ran alongside the train for several metres before being pulled away by a member of staff working on the platform.
The driver was alerted by other passengers, and the train was brought to a halt after around 17 metres. Minor injuries were reported. RAIB announced its intention to investigate. It intends to consider “the actions of those involved, risks associated with boarding and alighting from Elizabeth Line trains, post incident management of the platform-train interface accidents, and underlying management factors”.
In an unusual move, on 6 January this year RAIB launched a witness appeal seeking information about the accident. A request to be welcomed by everyone, I suggest.
HGV crashes onto the railway
A heavy goods vehicle (HGV) crashed off the A74(M) at around 08:00 on 13 December and dramatically ended up on the railway line near Gretna coming to rest after bending a rail. The railway between Gretna and Carlisle was closed as a result, and the lorry driver was subsequently charged with a road traffic offence. The railway line was closed for 11 hours as a result and the Slip Road at Junction 22 of the A74(M) was closed to allow recovery of the HGV.
Passenger train crashes into fallen tree
On 23 December RAIB released report 13/2024 following its investigation of a collision between a passenger train and a fallen tree. The accident happened on 27 December 2023 at around 13:09. On that day the 10:46 Perth to Aberdeen passenger train was travelling at around 84mph when it ran into the fallen tree. There were no reported physical injuries to the 37 passengers and three railway staff on the train. However, the train suffered significant damage to the leading driving cab as can be seen in the picture.
The tree had fallen from the Barnhill Rock Gardens, a public park owned by Dundee City Council. It was brought down during Storm Gerrit following several hours of high winds and heavy rain. Three other trees had been felled before May 2023 increasing the exposure of the tree which fell. Twelve minutes before the collision, a member of the public became aware that a tree had fallen and contacted Network Rail using the public help line. The call handler attempted to pass on the information to Network Rail’s Route Control but the call was not answered until after the accident. Network Rail relies on neighbouring landowners controlling “risks associated with visually healthy trees falling from outside the railway boundary.”
The train driver only escaped injury by crouching behind the driving seat having made an emergency brake application. The driver realised that a collision was inevitable. RAIB’s report comments that the telephone equipment used at Scotland’s integrated control centre did not display missed call information. Since the accident Network Rail has provided helpline staff with an additional number for use in emergencies.
RAIB has recommended that Network Rail consider how technology could assist in the detection of trees subject to altered exposure, including those on third party land. Dundee Council is also to review its management of the trees for which it is responsible to ensure that it is effectively controlling the risk of them falling onto the railway.
Near miss with trackworkers
There was a near miss with track workers at Morton Junction in Derbyshire on 27 November. The 07:26 passenger train was travelling at 78mph when it was involved in the near miss with a group of workers at the junction which is between Chesterfield and Alfreton. Following a preliminary examination RAIB has decided to publish a Safety Digest.
First report of 2025
Report 01/2025 was published on 16 January and relates to a fatality. On 26 December around 13:57 a passenger alighted at Stratford Station on London Underground’s Jubilee Line and sat on a platform bench. At around 14:45 the passenger stood up, stumbled, and fell onto the track. The passenger lay on the track undiscovered for five minutes before being struck by an arriving train that stopped normally.
The passenger’s presence remained unknown while a further three trains entered the terminal platform. The passenger was fatally injured. No other passengers or staff were present. The first train operator did not see the passenger on the track. The report surmises that “the operator may have been distracted by the presence of another operator standing on the platform”. The operator of a third inbound train “saw something but did not recognise what they saw as being a person”. Inbound train operators were not aware of the passenger because the passenger was underneath their respective trains before they departed.
RAIB has made two recommendations both addressed to London Underground Ltd. First, it is to consider “using technology that can detect if a passenger is in a dangerous position and intervene or warn as necessary to stop an approaching or departing train”.
Second, it is to “review the environmental, organisational, and job factors related to operating trains in automatic operation mode to understand how overload may affect train operators”. RAIB has added a learning point to remind staff of the importance of using safety critical communications when reporting and responding to incidents.
Image credit: RAIB
