Network Rail fined £733,000 for 2013 Gloucester derailment

Network Rail has been fined £733,000 for failing to undertake adequate maintenance to prevent the derailment of a freight train near Gloucester in October 2013.

The train partially derailed four miles south west of Gloucester station. It continued to Gloucester West Junction, where a collision with the facing points caused an empty 5.9-tonne container to dislodge and fall down an embankment, causing extensive damage and throwing debris into the road below.

The Office of Rail and Road found that while staff based at NR’s Gloucester maintenance depot had identified an ongoing track defect, short and medium-term repairs had been ineffective and the planned long-term solution had not been implemented.

ORR Head of Network Rail Route Teams Tom Wake said: “Given Network Rail’s failure to remedy this ongoing fault, it was only a matter of time before a derailment took place, creating a genuine risk to passengers and the public.

“In this instance, it was extremely fortunate that the loose container did not fall into the path of an oncoming train or cause injury to the public as it fell.

“The fine issued today sends a powerful message to the industry that the ORR is committed to protecting the safety of Britain’s railways and will not hesitate to take enforcement action when and where it is necessary.”

NR was fined at Bristol Crown Court on March 15.