Locked wheelset led to tanker crash

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into the derailment and fire of a tanker train at Llangennech, Carmarthenshire in August last year. The derailment occurred because one set of wheels on the third wagon stopped rotating during the journey and the wheelset became locked, probably because of a defect in the braking system on the third wagon. The RAIB made several recommendations covering a review of the actions taken by the owner of the wagons and improvements to the maintenance processes. It has also recommended that the manufacturer of some of the braking system components undertake a review of their design.