RAIB report: Chiltern Railways driver reset brakes to continue after SPAD
A HEAD-ON collision between a Chiltern Railways DMU and a London Underground Metropolitan Line train was narrowly avoided at Chalfont & Latimer on June 21 after the southbound DMU passed a signal at danger, after which the driver reset the brakes and continued.
An initial report from RAIB said the Chiltern driver passed a signal at danger, protecting a junction for the Underground train, waiting in the platform, to cross over and take the Chesham branch.
In passing the signal at red, it resulted in an automatic brake application on the Chiltern train, stopping around 310 metres beyond the signal. The driver reset the automatic brake equipment, and the train continued towards Chalfont & Latimer station, around 620 metres away.
As a result of the position of the points at the junction, it took the DMU onto the northbound line and on a potential collision course with the LU train, which was stationary because the signal aspect in front of it had changed to red as a result of the southbound train passing the red signal.
The two trains stopped about 23 metres apart (RM July, p7) in what the RAIB has called a ‘near miss’.
There were no reported injuries, although point work was damaged.
RAIB’s investigation will include:
■ Chiltern Railways’arrangements in relation to the competence, training, and fitness of its train drivers.
■ Chiltern Railways’ management of risk associated with its drivers operating on the London Underground network
■ How risk associated with signals passed at danger by non-London Underground trains is managed on the London Underground network.