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TRACK SAFETY
RAILSTAFF NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
REPORT BY COLIN WHEELER
THE QUALITIES OF A
WORLD-BEATING RA IN THE FINAL ISSUE OF 2021, COLIN WHEELER LOOKS AT THE LATEST RAIL SAFETY INCIDENTS INCLUDING NOVEMBER'S COLLISION AT SALISBURY, THE DANGERS OF ABANDONED HALF TROLLIES, AND THE DERAILMENT OF A FREIGHT TRAIN AT SHEFFIELD STATION
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eople skills, knowledge, motivation. The use of railway engineering and operational judgement. These are the qualities I believe are needed to make the services and safety of our future railways − the Great British Railways – the best in the world. Recent reports of accidents, incidents, and near misses indicate the size of the task, but it will be worthwhile.
Unfortunately, while we await an announcement about the appointment of Simon French’s successor as Chief Inspector for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), the organisation’s workload has been substantially increased by recent events.
Salisbury passenger trains collide
On 3 November, Anna Witherington, on behalf of the RAIB gave an update on the causes of the collision between two in-service passenger trains that occurred on 31 October. At around 18:45 that evening, the 17:20 South Western passenger train from London Waterloo to Honiton collided with the side of the 17:08 Great Western passenger service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads at Salisbury Tunnel Junction. The junction is near Salisbury in the immediate approach to Fisherton Tunnel. The South Western train was using the junction to join the Down Main from the Down Dean line as the Great Western train approached the junction from the Basingstoke direction.
to derail. Both trains continued for some distance into Fisherton Tunnel. The RAIB’s preliminary investigation established that the South Western train driver had braked on the approach to signal SY 31 and, 12 seconds later, made an emergency brake application. A second emergency brake was applied by the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) but the train still passed the signal and reached the junction where the collision occurred. The On Train Data Recorder analysis showed that wheel slide occurred “almost certainly as a result of low adhesion between train wheels and the rails.” Doubtless we will learn more when the RAIB has completed its investigation.
Low wheel/rail adhesion
Injuries at Grosmont
The collision impact caused the front two coaches of the South Western train and the rear two coaches of the Great Western train
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On 21 September there was a 10mph collision on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont Station. It happened
around 10:32 when a Class 20 diesel locomotive ran into the back of a passenger train. Five passengers suffered minor injuries and there was some damage to the train. Following a preliminary examination, the RAIB has decided that they will publish a Safety Digest.
Another UWC incident
On 18 September − soon after I reported on the mid-August incident at Kisby on 19 August − there was a near miss on Forestry User Worked Crossing (UWC) between Thetford and Brandon in rural Norfolk. This occurred in the early morning at about 06:05 when two cars were involved in a near miss with a passenger train. Again, following their preliminary examination the RAIB has decided to issue a Safety Digest. Local press reports have suggested that the level crossing itself may have been faulty.
