Runaway wagons spark investigation
1,800-TONNE TRAIN DERAILS JUST SHORT OF MAIN LINE
AN investigation has been launched after runaway wagons weighing more than 1,800 tonnes derailed just short of an active railway in Nottinghamshire.
Twenty-two wagons, most of them loaded, ran away from a siding at Old Bank in Toton and travelled for half a mile towards the active line before the front four derailed.
A signaller working at the
East Midlands Control Centre noticed the wagons – coupled in what is known as a “rake” – had passed a red signal and tripped an alarm.
They then passed a second red signal and some of the wagons derailed at the Toton south junction.
The Government’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the incident, which happened at around 4.42am on January 17, is being investigated.
The full rake of wagons weighed 1,870 tonnes.
“Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the accident,” the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said.
“It will also consider the processes that were in place for securing trains within the sidings, any factors relevant to how the risk of runaway wagons from within the sidings was being managed, the performance and design of the trap points, and
The trap points worked as intended to derail the unauthorised movement
Rail Accident Investigation Branch
any relevant underlying factors.
“Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.
“We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation.”
It says the leading four wagons derailed at the end of the run-out rails and the “trap points” at the junction had worked “as intended”.
Trap points are a safety measure used to protect the main occupied rail lines from the potential danger of unauthorised vehicles moving on to them.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch added: “The trap points worked as intended to derail the unauthorised movement.
“However, the front two derailed wagons stopped foul of the adjacent running line, although no trains were nearby when the derailment occurred.
“The rake of wagons ran away for a total distance of about 0.5 miles (0.8 km).”