Investigation into Lewisham self-evacuation

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is to launch a full investigation into the incident at Lewisham on March 2, when passengers self-evacuated from five Southeastern trains ( RAIL 848).

In a statement on March 13, RAIB said: “Following a preliminary examination of the circumstances surrounding the events near Lewisham on Friday March 2 2018, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has decided to launch a full investigation. Further details of the investigation and its scope will be published on the RAIB website within the next fortnight.”

Meanwhile, Clive Efford MP (Labour, Eltham) has raised the situation in Parliament. He asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether “(a) Southeastern Rail and (b) Network Rail have written to his Department on the matter of passengers being held on a train for over four hours outside Lewisham station on March 2 2018”.

Rail Minister Jo Johnson replied on March 13: “Southeastern made the Department aware of the incident and officials have discussed the impact it had on passengers. Southeastern is appointing an independent investigator to lead a full review of the incident to identify lessons learnt. This will be shared with my Department.”

Efford then asked “what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) Southeastern Rail on compensation for passengers left on trains outside Lewisham station for over four hours”.

This question was asked six days after the operator had announced that it was doubling Delay Repay compensation for all passengers caught up in disruption from February 26-March 2. For passengers stranded for two hours or more on trains on March 2, this equates to £100 or double Delay Repay, whichever is the larger sum.