Colin Wheeler examines the incidents and accidents keeping the Rail Accident Investigation Branch busy.
In July, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published its annual report which includes its annual assessment of St Pancras High Speed. The report refers to Governmental plans to reduce the administrative burden of regulation on the industry generally and the ORR’s aspiration to encourage private investment in the railway.
I support without reservation the report’s call for “clear accountability and visible safety leadership” together with “a more inclusive and resilient safety culture.” These aspirations, I suggest, will be best realised by building new organisations dedicated to each railway within the new Great British Rail organisation.
Referring to enforcement action taken, the report highlights what it describes as “high potential risk events” especially “level crossings, signals passed art danger and over-speeding.” Agricultural risks also increase at harvest time where there is a peak in user operated level crossings use.
There is specific reference to the freight train derailment in Audenshaw on 6 September 2024 which, it states, “exposed a weakness in maintenance arrangements”. I recall learning how difficult it can be to detect decay in longitudinal timber bearers found on underbridges. There are always alternatives available. I recommend prioritising the replacement of all under bridges with timber longitudinal bearers.
User worked crossing fatality at Bax
Bax crossing between Sittingbourne and Teynham in Kent is manually worked by users. On 13 July, a train collided with a van, fatally injuring the van driver.
The crossing has gates either side of the railway and signage instructing how it should be used. It is fitted with a miniature stop lighting system showing a green light when it is safe to cross. As trains approach, the lights change to red and an audible alarm sounds. The crossing is also fitted with telephones so that users crossing with slow or large vehicles or animals can contact the signaller. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is investigating the collision.
Norwood Junction Station near miss
On 1 July at 09:52, a train operated by Arriva Rail London departed from Norwood Junction Station with a manual access ramp still attached to it. The ramps are used to “facilitate boarding and alighting for mobility scooters and wheelchairs”, and should be removed before the train departs. At this station, staff had attached the ramp at a doorway for a mobility scooter user.
The train driver was not aware that the access ramp was attached when the doors were closed.
The train began to move with the ramp still attached and, as it was dragged, a member of staff and a member of the public were forced to take action to avoid it. After travelling 160 metres, the ramp struck a fence at the end of the platform and fell away from the train.
Platform staff alerted the signaller, and the train was taken out of service at New Cross Gate. The ramp was damaged, but no injuries were caused. RAIB has begun its investigation.
Derailment at Denbigh Hall South Junction
On 26 June at 12:27, a London Northwestern Railway passenger train derailed on the switch diamond crossing at this junction on the West Coast Mainline. The train was travelling at just 15mph after leaving Bletchley Station. There were no reported injuries to the four staff members on the train.
Some lines through the junction remained out of use until 16:05 on 29 June for train recovery and infrastructure repairs. Due to what is described as “a technical problem”, the train was only operational if driven northwards from the opposite end. A failed on-track machine had been stabled earlier that day on the only signalled track from the north end of Platform 4.
Operating Centre staff decided to allow the train to travel in the wrong direction on the southbound Up Slow. This required the signaller to instruct the driver to pass the north end platform signal at danger and travel to Denbigh Hall South Junction without the protection normally afforded by the signalling interlocking.
The signaller’s intention was that the train would cross onto the Down Slow at the junction and would then return to normal signalling control for its northwards journey to Kings Heath Depot near Northampton.
RAIB’s investigation will include the actions of those involved, how out of course movements are determined and validated, management of staff, and underlying factors.
Sheffield Tram accident
RAIB is currently investigating an accident involving pedestrians and a Sheffield tram that occurred at Stanforth Road crossing at 16:14 on 22 June. A Supertram collided with two pedestrians, both described as “young people”. One was seriously injured. The crossing is south of the road junction where Woodburn Road meets Staniforth Road. The pedestrians had travelled north along Woodburn Road and were moving eastwards over the crossing.
RAIB’s investigation will include the audibility of warnings at crossings, instruction and assessment of tram drivers, and the management of risk as well as “the wider strategy of South Yorkshire Future Tram Ltd”.
Collision of train and loaded agricultural farm trailer
This accident occurred at Nordan Farm crossing near Leominster in Herefordshire. At around 10:17 on 22 May, the 08:30 Cardiff passenger service struck a loaded agricultural trailer that was being hauled by a tractor over the user worked level crossing. The train was travelling at around 80mph when it struck the trailer. The trailer became detached from the tractor and wedged under the front of the train.
In addition to the train and trailer there was also damage to lineside equipment and a second level crossing. Six passengers and eight staff were treated for minor injuries. The tractor driver was uninjured.
Nordan Farm crossing is user-worked and has fitted telephones so users can obtain permission from the signaller before opening the crossing gates and crossing the railway. RAIB is investigating and initial evidence indicates that the tractor driver had telephoned the signaller before using the crossing.
Image credit: RAIB
