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10/11/2004
No technical faults in Ufton Nervet derailment, says HSE
Neither railway infrastructure nor staff error were in any way to blame for the train derailment at Ufton Nervet which left seven people dead, according to an interim report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE probe, which focused on the railway aspects of the derailment at Ufton Automatic Half Barrier level crossing, found that car driver Bryan Drysdale deliberately stopped his car on the crossing before the barrier sequence started. He then "made no attempt to leave the vehicle once the crossing traffic signals began to flash and the barriers descended".
There were at least 180 passengers and four crew on board when the derailment occurred at 6.11pm on Saturday evening. Seven people, including Mr Drysdale, died as a result of the crash and 37 passengers were taken to hospital.
The executive's inspectors found that the crossing's signal sequence worked correctly and gave the full 27 seconds warning. An off-duty policeman who happened to be at the scene when the sequence began reported that the car driver made no attempt to leave his vehicle once it became clear a train was oncoming.
The HSE report found that the power car of the First Great Western train hit the vehicle and slewed off the track. Forward momentum then jack-knifed the following carriages and led to a "catastrophic derailment" of all the high-speed train's 10 carriages.
Steve Walker, HSE Assistant Chief Inspector of Railways, who led the investigation, said: "At this stage, the HSE investigators have not found any evidence to suggest that there were any errors by railway staff or faults with the level crossing, the signalling system or the train involved in the derailment."
It had been reported that authorities considered a suicide attempt by Mr Drysdale to have been the likeliest cause for the tragedy. However, a relative of Mr Drysdale has expressed shock that he would attempt to take his own life, particularly if he risked killing others.
(gmcg/sp)
The HSE probe, which focused on the railway aspects of the derailment at Ufton Automatic Half Barrier level crossing, found that car driver Bryan Drysdale deliberately stopped his car on the crossing before the barrier sequence started. He then "made no attempt to leave the vehicle once the crossing traffic signals began to flash and the barriers descended".
There were at least 180 passengers and four crew on board when the derailment occurred at 6.11pm on Saturday evening. Seven people, including Mr Drysdale, died as a result of the crash and 37 passengers were taken to hospital.
The executive's inspectors found that the crossing's signal sequence worked correctly and gave the full 27 seconds warning. An off-duty policeman who happened to be at the scene when the sequence began reported that the car driver made no attempt to leave his vehicle once it became clear a train was oncoming.
The HSE report found that the power car of the First Great Western train hit the vehicle and slewed off the track. Forward momentum then jack-knifed the following carriages and led to a "catastrophic derailment" of all the high-speed train's 10 carriages.
Steve Walker, HSE Assistant Chief Inspector of Railways, who led the investigation, said: "At this stage, the HSE investigators have not found any evidence to suggest that there were any errors by railway staff or faults with the level crossing, the signalling system or the train involved in the derailment."
It had been reported that authorities considered a suicide attempt by Mr Drysdale to have been the likeliest cause for the tragedy. However, a relative of Mr Drysdale has expressed shock that he would attempt to take his own life, particularly if he risked killing others.
(gmcg/sp)
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12 November 2004
Memorial service to be held for Ufton Nervet victims
An open memorial service will be held for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to those killed in Ufton Nervet derailment, the Bishop of Reading has announced today. The Rt. Revd.
Memorial service to be held for Ufton Nervet victims
An open memorial service will be held for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to those killed in Ufton Nervet derailment, the Bishop of Reading has announced today. The Rt. Revd.
20 November 2003
Union votes for strike action amid Tube safety concerns
London commuters are facing the prospect of industrial action on the Tube network after members of the RMT union voted for strike action. The union balloted its members on industrial action over safety after claiming that employers, London Underground, had failed to give assurances over "inspections and other safety standards".
Union votes for strike action amid Tube safety concerns
London commuters are facing the prospect of industrial action on the Tube network after members of the RMT union voted for strike action. The union balloted its members on industrial action over safety after claiming that employers, London Underground, had failed to give assurances over "inspections and other safety standards".
02 July 2004
Two train firms fined £70k following derailment
Two rail companies have been fined a total of £70,000 in relation to the derailment of a passenger train outside West Sutton station in Surrey in 2001.
Two train firms fined £70k following derailment
Two rail companies have been fined a total of £70,000 in relation to the derailment of a passenger train outside West Sutton station in Surrey in 2001.
15 November 2004
One injured as train hits level crossing gate
Just nine days after the Ufton Nervet train derailment, one person has been injured in another accident at a level crossing. This morning's incident occurred at around 9am when a packed Lincoln to Peterborough commuter train, which had 50 schoolchildren on board, ploughed into a gate at a manned level crossing in Rowston, Lincolnshire.
One injured as train hits level crossing gate
Just nine days after the Ufton Nervet train derailment, one person has been injured in another accident at a level crossing. This morning's incident occurred at around 9am when a packed Lincoln to Peterborough commuter train, which had 50 schoolchildren on board, ploughed into a gate at a manned level crossing in Rowston, Lincolnshire.
13 January 2012
Regulator Prosecutes Network Rail For Grayrigg Train Derailment
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today started criminal proceedings against Network Rail for a breach of health and safety law which caused a train to derail near Grayrigg in 2007. On 23 February 2007, the 17.15 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central derailed on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria.
Regulator Prosecutes Network Rail For Grayrigg Train Derailment
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today started criminal proceedings against Network Rail for a breach of health and safety law which caused a train to derail near Grayrigg in 2007. On 23 February 2007, the 17.15 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central derailed on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria.
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