OVERSPEEDING REPORT

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into six trains overspeeding when a reduced temporary speed limit was in force between Laurencekirk and Portlethen, Aberdeenshire on December 4, 2020. A 40mph (64 kph) ‘blanket’ emergency speed restriction (BESR) had been imposed because of a forecast of heavy rain and the investigation found that some drivers were unaware of the BESR as they approached it, and others were unaware of its exact extent. RAIB has concluded that more work needs to be done to establish a suitable method for the imposition of speed restrictions in response to extreme weather. The report recommends an improvement to the BESR notices provided to drivers and a review of the methods used to implement blanket emergency speed restrictions.