AGENDA ITEM: D7
MEETING:
RSSB Board Meeting
DATE:
03 September 2015
SUBJECT:
Industry Safety Performance
SPONSOR:
George Bearfield
1.
Safety Performance
1.1
Safety Information
1.1.1
Summary safety information is included in Annex A. The headlines since the last board
meeting are:


During June and July 2015 there were no workforce or passenger fatalities. There were 9
public accidental fatalities.
During June and July, there were 51 signals passed at danger (SPADs). This is identical to as
the same two months in the previous year. (Note that this figure is provisional until all cases
have been agreed with the relevant parties.) Of the 51 SPADs, 13 were risk-ranked potentially
significant (16-19), and 2 were risk-ranked as potentially severe (20+)
1.2
RAIB Investigations and publications
1.2.1
Initiated investigations:




1.2.2




1.2.3
Freight train derailment near Angerstein Wharf, 3 June 2015
Possible repeat of April 2014 incident suggests loading, wagon maintenance and track
maintenance issues
Collision between train and wooden sleeper near Somerleyton, 18 June 2015
Engineering method of working implicated
Freight train derailment near Langworth, 30 June 2015
Incident poses questions about track maintenance and its preparation for hot weather
Collision between passenger train and cattle near Godmersham, 26 July 2015
The risk from animals on the line – and its implications for boundary management –
highlighted, along with the positioning of external GSM-R equipment
Published reports:
Train driver receives electric shock at Sutton Weaver, 23 September 2014
Metal fatigue causes injury, raises questions about drivers leaving cabs in cases of emergency
Track worker struck by train at Redhill, 24 June 2014
Incident highlights inadequacy of position of safety, the use of the train horn and the
importance of First Aid training
Near miss involving track workers near Hest Bank, 22 September 2014
Incident has implications both for lookout and the handling of previous recommendations
Freight train derailment at Porthkerry, 2 October 2014
Track inspection and rail replacement methodology questioned
Other reports published: None
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
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AGENDA ITEM: D7
Key safety reports to July 2015
Passenger
Workforce
Public
Passenger major injuries/billion journeys
350
300
250
313
297
275
258
250
234
232
Major injuries
200
150
132
123
122
128
114
128
130
100
83
56
38
50
45
42
40
36
47
34
11
0
2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016
(Apr-Jul)
* Public accidental fatalities include trespass and non-trespass, but exclude
fatalities at level crossings (which are shown separately).
60
Derailments and collisions
Collisions: non-passenger
Collisions: passenger in running
Derailments: non-passenger
Derailments: passenger
RIDDOR-reportable major injuries to each person type reported in SMIS.
The majority of passenger injuries occur in stations
Collisions: passenger low-speed
Derailment at crossing: non-passenger
Derailment at crossing: passenger
50
Potentially higher-risk train accidents
49
PHRTA/300 million train miles
42
40
6
2
6
1
3
12
13
3
8
33
1
1
4
2
7
3
1
5
7
11
25
3
1
4
1
13
2
32
30
8
9
35
20
16
3
3
1
2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016
(Apr-Jul)
18
9
10
0
2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016
(Apr-Jul)
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
Statutorily reportable collisions (excluding roll back and open door
(RIDDOR) reportable cases only. Includes derailments at level crossings after collisions), derailments, buffer stop collisions and trains striking road
striking road vehicles. Does not include buffer stop and ‘open door’
vehicles. PHRTAs are normalised per million train miles.
collisions. Passenger low-speed collisions predominately occur at stations.
SPADs on or affecting Network Rail managed infrastructure.
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
The dark blue bars refer to trains striking barriers where a previous incident
had caused the barriers to encroach onto the running line, such as a road
vehicle striking the barriers.
Page 2 of 7
AGENDA ITEM: D7
2.
Summary of safety performance for June and July 2015
2.1
Fatalities
During June and July 2015 there were no workforce or passenger fatalities. There were 9 public
accidental fatalities.
 On 12 June, a person trespassing on the line was struck by a passenger train at Primrose Hill
Tunnel (London North West).
 On 13 June, a person trespassing on the line was struck by a passenger train between
Congleton and Kidsgrove (London North West).
 On 16 June, a person trespassing on the line was struck by a passenger train at Chartham
station (Kent).
 On 18 June, a member of public fell from a bridge and subsequently suffered an electric shock
from overhead lines when he landed on a train wagon at Bescot Depot (London North West).
The person was later reported to have died in hospital.
 On 20 June, a person trespassing on the line was struck by a passenger train near Coseley
(London North West).
 On 22 June, a person trespassing on the line was struck by a passenger train on the approach
to Thetford (Anglia).
 On 23 June, a teenage child was struck and killed by an oncoming passenger train at Ealing
Broadway station (Western). The child’s mother was also struck and fatally injured in the same
incident; this event is currently classed as a suspected suicide.
 On 11 July, a 16-year old trespassing on the line climbed on to a stabled train and came into
contact with the over-head line causing electrocution at Wrenthorpe (London North East).
Two other trespassers were injured in the incident.
 On 22 July, a person was found with injuries consistent with falling from a cliff in Brighton wall
sidings (Sussex). Further investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of death.
There were 45 suspected suicides during June and July. The average monthly figure over the past 12
months has been 25.3. Suicide figures are subject to change as more information (eg, coroners’
verdicts) is made available.
2.2
Reportable train accidents: collisions, derailments and trains striking road vehicles
There were 4 reported train accidents during June and July.




On 3 June, a freight train derailed at Angerstein Wharf (Kent). There were no reported injuries.
On 30 June, a freight train derailed at Welton Oil Terminal (London North East). There were
no reported injuries.
On 20 July, a passenger train struck an abandoned vehicle 100 yards beyond Clay Mills level
crossing (London North East), with two passenger minor injuries reported.
On 26 July, a passenger train derailed by all wheels of the lead vehicle after striking two cows,
which were on the line at Wye (Kent); the derailed carriage came to rest leaning at 45 degrees
to the cess, with no reported injuries. RAIB are currently investigating the incident.
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
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AGENDA ITEM: D7
2.3
SPADs risk ranked 20+
There were 2 SPAD risk ranked 20+ during June and July 2015; there are no risk ranking forms
outstanding for June and July.
SPAD risk ranking 21 – On 6 July a passenger train passed BN2.65 signal at danger on the Up Main line
between Blackpool North and Poulton-Le-Fylde, by approximately 76m. The driver stated the incident
was due to a failure to check the signal aspect. BN2.65 is a signal protecting a plain line and the
distance to the conflict point where a collision could have occurred is 621m. The signal is not protected
by TPWS, and the risk ranking overrun probability is 7 (the highest being 10). In terms of the potential
consequences, should a rear-end collision have occurred, the SPAD risk ranking consequence score
was 14 (the highest being 18). This score arises because (a) the permitted speed of the SPAD train was
70mph and the speed of the conflict train was 70mph (potential collision speed in the calculation –
35mph), (b) the collision would have involved two MU MK3 passenger trains and (c) the passenger
trains were both peak loaded.
SPAD risk ranking 20 – On 4 July an empty coaching stock train passed MN1601 signal at danger on
the Up Rochdale Slow line at Manchester Victoria East Junction by approximately 500m. The driver
stated the incident was due to a misjudgement of train behaviour. MN1601 is a signal protecting the
junction during opposite direction movement, and the distance to the conflict point where a
collision could have occurred is 1632m. The signal is not protected by TPWS, and the risk ranking
overrun probability is 8 (the highest being 10). In terms of the potential consequences, should a
head-on or side-on collision have occurred, the SPAD risk ranking consequence score was 12 (the
highest being 18). This score arises because (a) the permitted speed of the SPAD train was 15mph
and the speed of the conflict train was 60mph (potential collision speed in the calculation –
37.5mph), (b) the collision would have involved one empty coaching stock and a passenger train and
(c) the conflict train was 11%-25% loaded.
3.
Overseas accidents (June – July 2015)
(Possible) SPAD
US: Two crew injured in Virginian freight collision, 14 July 2015
At around 16:00 (local time) on 14 July 2015, two freight
trains collided in Dublin, Virginia. Both were operated by
Norfolk Southern, the first being struck in the rear by a
second, causing at least five wagons from each to derail.
No dangerous goods were involved, but diesel fuel from one
of the locomotives was spilled. Three homes were evacuated
as a precaution.
Two crew members from the second train also required
hospital treatment.
South Africa: Train collision near Johannesburg injures
300+, 18 July 2015
At 18:00 (local time) on 18 July 2015, 326 people were injured when two commuter trains collided
near Booysens station, Johannesburg. There were no reported fatalities.
The cause of the incident has yet to be determined, though one commuter told the local press that
the first train had stopped at a signal before the second ran into it.
An investigation has been launched.
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
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AGENDA ITEM: D7
Environmental
India: At least 24 killed when two trains derail on track washed away by river, 4 August 2015
On 4 August 2015, two trains derailed near Hardam,
Madhya Pradesh.
Heavy rains had caused river levels to rise, which in turn
washed away the track bed.
The Kamayani Express from Varanasi to Mumbai derailed
first, the Janata Express (travelling in the opposite
direction) followed shortly after. A number of carriages
fell into the Machak River. At least 24 people were killed and around 25 were injured.
Some told the local media of their alarm at the
sight of water pouring in through the windows.
One said there had been ‘a sudden jerk’ and ‘the
carriage broke apart and people were crushed’.
Rescuers worked through the night trying to free
those trapped. By morning, all the coaches had
been cleared and bodies of the victims
recovered.
An investigation has been launched.
Dangerous goods
US: Freight derails near Knoxville – dangerous goods involved, 5000 evacuated, 2 July 2015
Shortly before 23:50 (local time) on 2 July 2015, a freight
train carrying acrylonitrile derailed near Knoxville,
Tennessee. The resulting fire led to the evacuation of
around 5000 local residents within a two-mile radius. It
was still burning at 08:15 the following morning.
Ten police officers had to be taken to the hospital
because they breathed in fumes, according to a Blount
County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.
An investigation has been launched.
Overspeeding (buffer stop collision)
India: Buffer stop collision injures 5 in Mumbai, 29 June 2015
At 11:20 (local time) on 29 June 2015, a passenger
train struck the buffer stops before derailing at
Churchgate station, Mumbai. Five passengers were
injured.
The operator – Western Railways – says the
accident was ‘99%’ due to human error.
An investigation has been launched. The driver,
guard and locomotive inspector have all been suspended pending the outcome, the latter for failing
to operate the emergency brake when it became apparent that the train was approaching the station
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
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AGENDA ITEM: D7
too fast. However, the driver told the media that he applied the main brakes, ‘but the train barely
slowed down’.
Reports say that onlookers attempting to take pictures of the train hampered staff as they tried to
repair the damage.
Level crossings
France: Three killed in crossing collision in Orne region, 8 August 2015
At 20:20 (local time) on 8 August 2015, a train struck a car on a level crossing at Conde-sur-Huisne.
The vehicle was dragged for several hundred metres and three of its occupants were killed.
It is thought the car had stalled on the interface. One person got out to try to push it clear but was
unable to do so before the train’s arrival.
There were no on-train injuries.
Other derailments – cause TBA
US: Freight derails, one wagon falls from bridge, no reported injuries, 11 June 2015
At around 08:30 (local time) on 11 June 2015, nine
wagons and a locomotive from an 84-wagon freight
derailed on a bridge in Houston, Texas.
Two wagons fell from the track; one landed on the
road below (see photo).
There were no reported injuries or spillages, and no
dangerous goods were involved.
Canada: Freight derailment near Bowmanville, no
dangerous goods, 18 July 2015
At 13:50 (local time) on 18 July 2015, a container train
derailed near Bowmanville, Ontario, causing passenger
operator VIA Rail to suspend services between
Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
There were no dangerous goods involved and no
reported injuries.
An investigation has been launched.
Train fires
France: Pantograph fire in Lunel leads to evacuation, 7 receive minor
injuries, 2 August 2015
At around 08:00 (local time) on 2 August 2015, a Spanish high-speed train
caught fire shortly after leaving Lunel in France.
The fire broke out in the leading vehicle of an S-100 class electric multiple
unit (EMU).
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AGENDA ITEM: D7
A spokesperson for the operator – RENFE – noted that damage was also caused to the overhead line,
and that the 300 passengers were evacuated and taken by bus to Montpelier, where their journeys
resumed by train.
The media reported that between seven and eight
passengers sustained minor injuries after breaking
windows in order to escape.
Two were taken to hospital to receive stitches in their
hands.
An investigation has been launched.
RSSB Board Meeting Final: 03 September 2015
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