RAIB criticises ELR for runaway

“Inadequate management systems” led to a permanent way trolley running away and crashing into a set of level crossing gates on the East Lancashire Railway, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

The RAIB has released its accident report into the incident, which occurred on March 15 when a group of five permanent way volunteers used an unbraked hand trolley to transport approximately half a tonne of ballast on the section of line north of Ramsbottom station. The trolley ran away on the 1-in-140 gradient and collided with a set of level crossing gates, forcing them open across the road and spilling some of its load when it derailed (SR479). There were no injuries, but the crossing gates were damaged.

In its summary, the RAIB’s report says: “The immediate cause of the runaway was that the trolley was not fitted with any brakes and was deployed on a gradient without the introduction of any mitigation or safeguard against it running away.

“There was no assessment of the risks of using the trolley, either generically or for the specific task on the day, and there was no formal training or briefing of the operators on the day. The underlying factors were inadequate management systems in the Permanent Way department and, probably, a lack of Safety Management System compliance audits.”

For the full report, visit https://bit.ly/2qHA1RV