Railway safety

Britain’s railways are safer than ever, says the RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board).

Analysis released on February 23, the tenth anniversary of the Grayrigg derailment, shows that train accident fatality risk has fallen by 87% since 2000.

Since Grayrigg, no passenger has died in a train accident on Britain’s National Rail network, with accidents and risk factors such as Signals Passed at Danger (SPADs) said to be at an all-time low.

Incidents with the potential to turn into more serious accidents, such as trains striking objects and derailments, are also falling - 17 incidents were reported in 2016 compared with 45 in 2007.

Crashworthiness of trains has also helped safety, with the Class 390s’ design and the use of laminated windows at Grayrigg reducing injuries and preventing passengers from being ejected from the train.

The RSSB says the rail industry has been able to “maintain constant scrutiny and analysis of data”, to focus on where risk needs to be managed most. These include level crossings and the platform-train interface.

It further points out that on average five people die on Britain’s roads every day.

RSSB Director of System Safety George Bearfield said: “This unprecedented ten-year respite does not, of course, mean that train accidents are consigned to history. It’s still possible for accidents involving trains, or vehicles like trains, to happen, as shown elsewhere. We have seen major accidents overseas in recent months, and also the major tram accident in Croydon in November last year. The railway’s safety performance is maintained through continual learning, and industry is ready to learn any relevant transferable lessons for the main line railway in Britain.

“By remaining vigilant and avoiding complacency, the railways have maintained a methodical and targeted approach to managing risk and improving safety. Stronger trains, better signalling and protection, and day-to-day dedication of rail staff have all played their part, too.”