RAIB sounds warning over Storm

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has sounded an alert to the industry over issues with notifying drivers of blanket emergency speed restrictions (BESRs).

It comes after three overspeed incidents at Stafford, Crewe and Warrington on February 21, during Storm Franklin. In all three cases, the drivers were not aware of the BESRs, which in one instance led to a Pendolino travelling at 125mph instead of 50mph.

RAIB’s alert highlights issues around the communication of BESRs to drivers, including a potential for error where preplanned BESRs are introduced but without supporting GSM-R broadcasts to drivers.

BESRs are typically put in place during extreme weather conditions such as high winds or storms, where there is a greater risk of debris or damage to overhead wires.Current procedures require drivers to check the ‘late notice’

A verdict of accidental death has been returned by a jury in the inquest of train driver Abdul Rehan.

The 64-year-old had returned a train from Birmingham New Street to Tyseley depot on December 14 2019, before being crushed as he passed between two carriages that were being coupled together.

The jury heard how there was no known explanation for why Rehan chose to get out on the non-driver side of his train and then go through the gap, when an authorised walking route was available next to the driver’s door.

The inquest was told that both Rehan and the depot driver were competent workers and up to date in their training.

Multimodal journey planning service Traveline Cymru has been brought under the Transport for Wales umbrella.

The service includes a bilingual contact centre, website and apps. It is funded by the Welsh Government.

TfW is also creating an advisory panel for integrated transport and has invited existing board members of Traveline owner PTI Cymru to join. case when signing on, and being advised by GSM-R, to ensure they are aware of BESRs.

In a preliminary examination, RAIB identified an issue with failure to pass information to drivers who sign on remotely (not at a booking-on point with a ‘late notice’ case), as well as when changes are made to BESRs.

A 50mph BESR covered Network Rail’s entire North West route, other than the West Coast Main Line from Penrith to Cove level crossing. It was pre-planned and notified to train operators at 1149 on Sunday February 20 that it would be in force from 0001-1000 the following day.

In Scotland, a 40mph BESR covered the Glasgow South Western line from Kilmarnock to the route boundary. It was notified and implemented at 2335 on February 20, to be in place until 0900 on February 21.

At 0253, the 2315 GlasgowEuston