1. RIGHT ISSUE 5 // MAY 2013
safety charter
THE CHALLENGE OF CHARTER TRAINS
AND MANAGING RISKS TO PASSENGERS
TACKLING ‘STOP ROAD DRIVING RAIB REPORT BRIEF:
SHORTS’ RISK JAMES STREET
Part of the
operational
safety programme
sponsored by
industry

2. RIGHT
headlamp
Welcome to Issue 5 of Right Track In this issue
Read Carolyn Duerden’s
While we were researching Right Track 5, one of our own drivers took a passenger train feature about the challenge
Channel 4 was just finishing the second through a 20mph TSR at 50 while using his of running charter services.
series of Charlie Brooker’s satire, Black phone. Elsewhere, Southern looks
Mirror. Brooker’s suggestion was that at ‘stop shorts’, Network
‘the future is broken’, or could be if we But there are ‘outside’ issues too. RAIB’s
recent report into the death of a cyclist at Kings Rail’s Scott Meadows
get so carried away with filming and
Mill level crossing on 2 May 2012 says that is featured in lowdown
photographing everything on our phones
and tablets that we can’t even get ourselves the deceased had ridden into the path of a and our cartoonist helps
out of the path of danger. passenger train partly because ‘he was wearing illustrate the overspeeding
earphones, which probably prevented him from issue. SPADtalk goes
The drama was designed to be eye-opening hearing warnings sounded by the train’s horn’. continental and we review
social comment, but is life already imitating art? Yes. Probably. the RAIB report into the
Consider the almost obsessive filming by the James Street accident. It’s
public during the riots of 2011... Widespread wi-fi access can also have
other effects on safety – witness the multiple all here, and much more, in
Yet there can be no doubt that mobiles have trespass at Kentish Town in May 2011, which your Right Track….
revolutionised the way we communicate with RAIB suggests was worsened by passengers
each other. Indeed, they’ve become so vital to exchanging messages and electronic
modern life that few of us would want to leave information about the state of the train in a way
home without the means to chat ‘on the go’. that influenced their own behaviour. The same
The railway also uses smartphone and Twitter
technology to keep passengers updated with
report notes an incident at South Croydon the
following month, where a train was stopped by
Contents
the latest travel information. a passcom activation. Several people, again 2-3 // Headlamp/Long
arm reaches out at
influenced by social media sites, forced the
The trouble (at the moment) comes with Northallerton
doors and got out, with the result that one
distraction: in a safety critical environment like woman ‘was severely burned after coming into 4-7 // Day tripper
our’s, it’s not always wise to yield to the natural contact with the live electrical conductor rail’. 08 // Star - that’s what they
reflex to answer a ringing phone or reply to a call you
text. In fact, it can be fatal. This is to say nothing of the many lower-grade 09 // The lowdown
instances of passengers listening to music
This was illustrated in the USA on 12 on board trains. Usually treated as merely a 10 // Driving home the
September 2008, when a commuter service message
Quiet Carriage nuisance – and normally totally
passed a signal at danger and collided with ignored by staff – there’s a danger they may 11 // Too fast
a freight train in California at about 85mph. miss vital safety information, while those texting 12 // Life-saving survey
Twenty-five people were killed, including the as they walk through stations present all kinds 13 // Moorgate remembered
driver himself. On the day of the accident, he’d of obvious problems.
sent and received several text messages while 14-15 // RAIB report brief:
on duty, the last of which occurred just 22 So is the future broken? If we let it happen, James Street
seconds before the collision. A lot of work has yes. Maybe. Back Page // SPADtalk
been done to tackle this problem since then,
but issues still occur – last June, for example,
Right Track is produced by RSSB through cross-industry cooperation. It is designed for the people on the operational front-line Right Track can be
on the national mainline railway, yards depots and sidings and London Underground. Their companies are represented on the downloaded from Opsweb -
cross-industry Operations Focus Group, managed through RSSB, and Right Track is overseen by a cross-industry editorial group.
www.opsweb.co.uk
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Tel 020 3142 5300 Email righttrack@rssb.co.uk www.rssb.co.uk www.opsweb.co.uk
Designed and printed by Urban Juice / Willsons Group Services.
Right Track is designed to share news and views from individual companies in a positive way. However, the views expressed in Right Track are those of the contributing authors; they
do not necessarily reflect those of the companies to which they are affiliated or employed, the editors of this magazine, the magazine’s sponsors - the Operations Focus Group - or the
magazine’s producers, RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board).
02 //

3. Partnership works
long arm reaches
out at Northallerton
British Transport Police and Samaritans are working with
locals to try to deter people from jumping onto the line at
Northallerton, where there have been four deaths in the
last 18 months. Photo: East Coast
The scheme, dubbed ‘Station Watch’, was being on the East Coast Mainline, feature ‘If people see the posters, or a card or
created by Sgt Jo Christon, who says that trains running at high speeds. a phone number, that could make the
the force ‘wanted to work together with difference,’ says Jo. ‘If you can interrupt
Samaritans, station staff and local residents Residents help out with regular patrols, their thought process when they are
to form a partnership so the station feels contacting the police as soon as an issue very troubled, that can turn the situation
a safer place’, and so that ‘anyone who is arises. Warning markings have been around.’
troubled or has problems can see help is at painted along platform edges, posters
hand.’ have been put up around the station, and The BTP also hopes to install platform
the Samaritans hand out cards and talk to telephones to provide a direct line to
The need at Northallerton is heightened by passengers. Samaritans.
the fact that the platforms are long and,
RSSB is looking for views on suicide prevention as part of the support for Network Rail
and Samaritans’ partnership work. More details are on page 12…
Logo
WE WE
Strapline WE ALL
LISTEN RESPOND LEARN
By sharing lessons
To your health & By liaising with the learnt via conferences,
safety concerns relevant company workshops and CIRAS
with confidentiality to help facilitate publications
guaranteed a resolution
www.ciras.org.uk
Freephone 0800 4 101 101 Freepost CIRAS Text 07507 285887
// 03

4. day tripper
The Cathedrals Express on 8 September 2012 coming into Upminster, headed by Peppercorn A1 60163 ‘Tornado’ – famous for
being the first mainline standard gauge steam locomotive to be built from scratch in the UK since 1960. Copyright SP Rail
DB Schenker’s Carolyn Duerden talks through the passenger risk
challenges faced by charter train operators.
Railway staff can be held responsible to be given to the dwell time at stations. associated with the platform-train interface
in law for someone’s injury or death. In This should be longer than for other (PTI) are magnified. There are particular
his recent summing up in the James passenger operators to take account of the and sometimes peculiar circumstances
Street manslaughter trial, the Hon Mr additional checks that need to be done with that raise additional hazards and present a
Justice Holroyde said that the guard’s heritage coaching stock, and also the fact real challenge to reduce the risk from these
gross negligence occurred over seconds that passengers returning to the train may hazards coming to fruition.
and with no motivation for profit or self need encouragement, station stops being
advantage. It’s a truly sobering and seen as photo opportunities. For station operators and passenger service
thought-provoking example of the far- providers, the chances of someone dying
reaching consequences of a moment’s But it is when the stock is platformed and from a safety incident are highest at the PTI.
distraction: omitting a procedural step opened to its passengers that the hazards
The risk is reduced somewhat by
or giving sub-standard communication.
established train dispatch procedures,
But it’s not just the main line – these
station platform design and signage,
challenges are faced by charter train
experienced dedicated staff and a level
operators too.
of expertise that comes with running
DB Schenker Rail UK provides thousands of (passenger) services to the
approximately 300 charter services a year same stations every year. Passengers on
for rail tour operators. These can take a these services generally have the same
variety of forms – branch line trips, non- purpose: to get on at A, ride to B, get off
Network Rail excursions, sporting event and leave the station.
specials, Orient Express extravaganzas –
With a charter train, the purpose is the
and are limited only by the imagination of
journey itself – they are, for many, a
the tour company.
celebration of rail travel. But they also bring
As these are non-timetabled trains, they are additional hazards…
planned, bid for and resourced under the
short-term planning process (STP). This Charter trains pose a special safety challenge
type of planning produces its own risks and for the charter operator and the operators of
the stations en route. Copyright SP Rail
challenges. For example, consideration has
04 //

5. Charter challenge
Mark 1 coaches were used all across
the network and their old look-
and-feel offer charm and historical
reminders to day-trippers as well
as suiting the older locomotives.
However, they have not been used
The Cathedrals Explorer on 13 May 2011 at Steventon, headed by two
on regular mainline services since Stanier Black 5 steam locomotives.
2005, and do not provide the same
level of containment as modern Train length-short platform
rolling stock.
Charter services are popular and train
length often exceeds the platform length
at many of the station stops. The
Guards
arrangements for each station stop begin at
These are provided by the freight operator. the planning stage, are detailed and briefed
Within DB Schenker Rail, they are known out to PTOs, train managers and stewards.
as Passenger Train Operatives (PTOs). The On-train announcements are made to
PTOs are in charge of the operational side customers on the approach to each short
of the charter service, as well as station platform station, but there’s always the
dispatch. Their duties include ensuring that potential, given the secondary door locking,
there are enough stewards allocated to the that an enthusiastic (or even inebriated)
service and to brief the train manager and customer could bypass a busy steward and
stewards on their safety responsibilities. try to open an un-platformed door.
The train steward plays an important role The PTO and train manager are issued with
The PTOs are expected to undertake helping customers find their way around the
protection arrangements when the service copies of a document known as a ‘Short
train as well as working with other staff on the
is required to take on water or manage the train and on the platform to manage safety. Platform Statement’. PTOs are also tested
third party contractors when tendering, or on potential short platforms during their
changing gas bottles. They are trained route knowledge assessment.
secondary door locking arrangements on
and re-assessed in their duties at regular
the heritage stock at station stops. The
intervals, which is managed through DB
greatest number of events with the biggest
Schenker Rail’s competence management
risk over the past three years has involved
system. They also have to have route
the failure of stewards to comply with the
knowledge, being faced with different
procedures defined by DB Schenker Rail –
routes each journey, which tends to mean
specifically managing the secondary door
different station dispatch arrangements
locking. There are set procedures laid
and can very often include non-Network
down, but there is one steward provided for
Rail infrastructure in the form of yards and
every two vestibule ends and there’s always
sidings.
the risk from distraction by customers or
Train Stewards events on the platform.
These are provided by the tour operator. Drivers
Their main function is to assist the train
Drivers’ Class 1 competency is recorded,
managers with customers. However, from Staff help people find their way around the
managed and assessed through DB train and platform to ensure safe and prompt
a risk management point of view, their most
Schenker Rail’s competence management departure.
important task is one that they perform
system.
for the freight operator – managing the
// 05

6. The whole-route
challenge – c2c
A charter train’s path can be quite
elongated, intermingling with many
different operators’ own routes,
services and stations. This means
that other operators might need to
be aware of the unique issues that a
special train brings.
Upminster is one of the stations
where the Cathedrals Express picks
up passengers. It’s operated by
c2c and staff have to be alert to the
need to run the normal timetable
for regular passengers as well as
supporting the extra people coming
for the special. Upminster is also the Not all charters are steam-hauled; sometimes a steam loco will only be booked on part of the
eastern-most terminus of the London journey, and sometimes the loco will fail meaning a diesel comes to the rescue.
Underground’s District Line.
c2c Revenue Protection and Security Coaching stock Registration Agreement, which designates
maintenance arrangements and renders the
Manager, Iain Palmer, explains: None of the Mark I and only some of the traction records subject to audit. Traction
‘People are arriving at our station, Mark II coaches have automatic central units are also registered on TOPS.
hoping for a fantastic day out on a door locking mechanisms. Secondary door
steam train, but they may not be locking is manually operated by the train Stations
as clued-up as regular commuters. stewards and consists of a simple ‘draw
The Cathedrals Express is 11 across’ bolt. A derogation from Railway These can be unmanned, where the PTO
coaches long, and so we try to help Group Standards is applied for every year needs to undertake dispatch, or manned
people find out roughly where they to run such coaches with this type of by station staff who work in consideration
need to stand to avoid a rush. We’ll locking. of the PTO’s duties and undertake the
give extra announcements to help.’ dispatch themselves. Agreement is
‘The sight of a special train also
Traction reached as to the responsible person
between the PTO and lead dispatcher on
brings other extra people on to the Heritage traction owners register their arrival at the station.
station who want to take photos. locomotives under The Private Locomotive
Grandparents might bring their
grandchildren just to see a steam
train pass by, and there are also rail
enthusiasts and photographers. We
help make sure everyone stays safe
and set some basic ground rules (like
not allowing stepladders) to prevent
distraction and accidents.’
‘Meanwhile we also want to make
sure the routine c2c services
still all run to time and that these
passengers don’t get on a steam
train to the other end of the country
by mistake! In many ways it can be
refreshing and flattering to have a
special train run through your station,
and it’s a healthy reminder that it
is possible to take people by train
beyond the confines of your own
route.’
Platforms can become more crowded than usual – with some passengers who may not
be regular train travellers and for whom the station environment may be less familiar.
06 //

7. Charter challenge Newswire...
UK: Man dies after car hit by
train at Sandy Lane
At 15:38 on 2 January 2013, a car was
struck by a freight train at Sandy Lane
AHB in Yarnton, killing the passenger
instantaneously. It later transpired that
the vehicle had been driven legally
onto the crossing before the lights
started flashing, but then stalled for an
unknown reason. The driver attempted
to restart it rather than escape as he
had a disabled passenger in the back.
China: Scaffold collapses
on Shanghai Metro site
On 2 January 2013, scaffolding
collapsed on a Metro Line site in the
Jinqiao area of Pudong, Shanghai.
One worker was killed and eight were
injured. The accident occurred during
a concrete pour at the site of a parking
area near the terminal.
US: Escalator accident
in Jersey City station
On 8 January 2013, five New Jersey
commuters were injured, three requiring
hospital treatment, when an escalator
malfunctioned at the Exchange Place
PATH station in Jersey City.
China: Metro train driver killed
At Upminster, the c2c station staff need to be able to dispatch an 11-coach loco-hauled train from on test run in Yunnan
a platform full of enthusiasts, photographers and well-wishers. On 9 January 2013, a driver was killed
when the front carriage of an elevated
Dispatch methods Last-minute cancellations metro train derailed while on test in
Kunming.
Route knowledge held by the PTOs covers These present additional hazards for other
Switzerland: SPAD leads
large areas of the country and involve station operators where there’s a great
to collision that injures 17
many stations. The PTO must consider influx of customers onto an already busy
the dispatch arrangements at every station: network from a single departure point. On 10 January, two local services
where the station lead dispatcher will be Cancellations are rare, although bus collided outside Neuhausen, injuring
17 passengers. Initial investigations
standing, the infrastructure and dispatch substitutions because of late running do suggest that the departing train
signage at each location and, on arrival, occur (especially on Saturday evenings passed a signal at danger. The signal
any circumstances that may add to the risk when engineering blockades cannot be in question is fitted with a protection
(such as the number of people on platform). held off). Late running can also create a system, but the distance between it and
As well as managing and real-time planning need for customers to be conveyed by taxi points at the station throat is too short
to stop a train fouling them if it SPADs.
the dispatch of the train, the PTO has after missing their last connection home.
to double-check the actions of the train Both of these situations are undesirable and India: Fatal accident at
stewards and check the doors. All this and expose customers to a different type of risk. Chennai Metro Rail site
running to a timetable too! On 11 January 2013, a 22-year-old
Because of their bespoke nature, charter construction worker was killed when
Rail enthusiasts trains bring so many considerations, from a steel girder fell at the Metro Rail site
planning, staffing and dispatch to how to at which he was working. He became
Heritage traction generates a lot of interest manage a last-minute failure. trapped under a lifting girder used
for enthusiasts and it’s not unusual to find to position concrete piles along the
many present and milling round the steam Although a small part of the railway industry, elevated track.
or heritage diesel loco when on a station a charter is often the first time a person Egypt: 19 killed in
stop. Many will have cameras in hand has been on a train (or at least the first derailment train crash
and may be more interested in close-up time for a long time). This means that their
Shortly after midnight on 15 January,
photography than their own safety. This perception of the whole industry can be
19 people were killed and over 100
presents even greater hazards for the shaped by the experience. were injured when two carriages of a
PTO when attempting to clear the area for passenger train derailed, before striking
dispatch. Get it right, and they’ll come back. Get it an empty freight consist in Badrashin.
wrong... The train was carrying over a thousand
Egyptian soliders to Cairo.
// 07

8. STAR
- that’s what they call you
Southern’s initiative on ‘stop shorts’
Every week, the logs tell of incidents STAR stands for ‘Stop, Think, Assess, Southern considered that – second to
where a train has stopped short in the Release’. collisions – it was a very high priority in
platform and the SDO hasn’t been used, terms of risk. Its answer was to launch a
or the doors have been opened on the Between 5 January 2009 and 30 December campaign aimed at reminding staff of the
off side of the train. Though there have 2011, Southern drivers had 151 stop issues and suggesting solutions.
been no accidents to passengers to shorts, with 148 releasing the doors and
date, it’s only a matter of time before two passengers alighting. During the same These have included using risk-focused
someone walks though one of those period, there were 53 off side door releases. commentary (if you tell yourself which side
doors and falls either into the cess, into the platform is on, you’ll probably be right!),
The company realised that flashing lights drivers writing the length of their train on
the path of a train or onto the third rail.
and audible indicators were leading their schedule card and making a ‘formation
One operator that’s grasped the nettle passengers to believe that when the doors reminder’ card to stick to the control desk.
on this issue is Southern, which has seen are released it is safe to alight – even when Small things that can have a big difference
some success with its ‘STAR’ initiative. those doors are actually on the non- – indeed, since the initiative was rolled out,
platform side of the train. the number of ‘stop short’ incidents has
fallen to 15 (see chart below).
Stop Shorts (with door release)
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
July 11 - Jan 12 Feb 12 - July 12
Top and bottom photo: Southern Railway
08 //

9. The lowdown
within the industry to learn lessons and
have open conversations – there was a
certain amount of secrecy in the past.
We’re safer despite carrying more
RIGHT passengers than ever before.
Describe a typical day for you:
There is no such thing as a typical day; I
support colleagues in the delivery of the
Signal Overrun Assessment Tool project
(SORAT), which will be replacing the Signal
is Rail Business Assessment Tool (SAT). These tools take
information from a variety of sources
Awards finalist providing a measurement of where potential
The lowdown: high risk signals are enabling improved
planning to mitigate identified risks.
Scott
As well as being an administrator for
SORAT and SAT, I’m also an administrator
for the Timetable Search Engine for Risk
Meadows
Assessment Tools (TSERAT), liaising with
suppliers, hosting conferences, training for
SORAT as well as focusing on my personal
learning development.
Name: Scott Meadows
What’s the biggest difference you’ve
Position: noticed from changing roles with a
Systems Risk Control Specialist TOC to the infrastructure maintainer?
How long have you worked for the The biggest change was going from a local
Right Track was a finalist at this year’s railway, Scott? to a national view; The Olympics from my
Rail Business Awards in the Safety involvement were local to London. I do a
I joined in 1999 as a train driver, which
and Personal Security Excellence lot more travelling, each route has different
was my substantive post during my time
category. infrastructure, level crossings, suburban or
with Southeastern. However, in 2011 I
rural lines. Each route has its own unique
led the testing phase for the Olympics
Judges commented: challenges which require my help and
representing Southeastern working
support.
‘The introduction of this new with Docklands Light Railway (DLR),
publication is lauded for its house Transport for London (TfL), Network Where do you see the railway in five
style and the focus on making its Rail and Operations Delivery Authority years’ time?
content attractive and understood (ODA).
We will carry more people more safely
by the readership which ideally The testing phase used events such and efficiently. There is an ambitious
comprises the entire operational end as the London marathon, Blackheath programme of enhancements to be
of the industry.’ fireworks, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee delivered such as Crossrail and the
and Red Optimus, which was the soft Northern Hub.
There was hot competition in all
opening for the Olympic park and
categories, and it was ultimately In ten?
stadium when First Capital Connect,
Southeastern who took the safety Southeastern and Southern tested Major innovative changes coming our
excellence crown, for its success in Network Rail’s plans for London Bridge. way with more automation on both trains
reducing the number of incidents of and the signalling system. Intelligent
assault, robbery and violence on the This demonstrated what the
train management systems with a greater
south east rail network by nearly half. industry can achieve when working
reliance on automation allowing increased
collaboratively. Lessons learnt from the
capacity.
Right Track is a ‘whole industry’ Queen’s Diamond Jubilee allowed better
thing so a big thank you to everyone game time delivery. Finally, describe your most memorable
who helps to drive it, discusses railway experience:
In January this year I moved from the
ideas, sources interviewees, news
Southeastern train operating company Without doubt it was the Queen’s Diamond
and features. Remember, if you
to the infrastructure maintainer Network Jubilee. It was freezing; the rain was
have an idea for an article, get in coming down horizontally. However,
Rail.
touch at righttrack@rssb.co.uk. Also people kept coming to see the Queen and
congratulations to all winners and What’s the biggest change you’ve
celebrate. I’ve never seen such a volume
finalists at this year’s awards. seen in our industry since then?
of people go and see an event in central
There is an increased determination London.
// 09

10. Photo: RED 35
with this issue. The guidance documents
will include references to the issues raised
in RED 35 and are set to be distributed to
rail companies shortly, along with reminder
driving home
sheets for staff to keep in the car and
awareness-raising posters to put up in
canteens, foyers and mess rooms.
the message
Managers will also be encouraged to
ensure that the potential for road vehicle
driver fatigue is incorporated into job
design, rostering, work risk assessments,
and travel planning for work.
For more information about these new
guidance tools and RED 35, talk to your line
Raising awareness of the impact manager or look at
of fatigue on driving on the roads
Opsweb – www.opsweb.co.uk
or the RSSB website www.rssb.co.uk
One of the reasons the railway has such the problem of road vehicle safety more
a mature safety conscience is because effectively. Experience and intelligence –
the sector is usually quick and keen to including a recent study of CIRAS reports
learn from accidents and incidents. To – is revealing staff concern about the issue,
be blunt, trains are big and fast, but especially where road driving risk is made
worse by journey times and fatigue.
people are normally protected because RED 35
the system is designed with safety
in mind - everything from signalling,
There are many different occasions when Fatigue at the wheel
rail staff need to drive on the roads. It
systems of working, management The latest RED video shows a
could be to get to and from work, between
systems, to people who are well-trained young, keen rail worker played
worksites, offices, depots, or even to the
and have the right competence and by James Redmond (Hollyoaks,
scene of incidents. It might be in a car
experience. Casualty) involved in a road traffic
personally owned, hired, or in the company-
branded works van. It may even be that accident. His line manager, played
The roads don’t offer the same level of by Ben Hull (Hollyoaks, Crime
they are being ferried around by taxi or
discipline, and the risk they offer for car Stories), knows he’s a committed
minibus with someone else in control.
occupants is 20 times bigger than for rail family man, a conscientious team
passengers. Five people die on Britain’s However there is a lot that can be done. player for the railway, so how could
roads every day, some of which will Resources to help with staff briefing on this he possibly end up embroiled in an
undoubtedly be journeys to, from or for issue are starting to become available, and accident?
work. Trains usually only go where the rails are helping to bring the stark realities of the
and signals tell them to. Cars are driven risk to life. Coming soon to a briefing near you,
‘on-sight’.
watch RED 35 and find out not only
RED 35, issued earlier in the year, homes
As reported in Right Track 3, the rail how a wide range of things can
in on ‘fatigue at the wheel’ and is using its
industry as a whole wants to grapple with usual format of a dramatic reconstruction to line up so easily and tragically, but
focus the minds of people at briefings to the also what can be done by everyone
issues involved. The reality is that, although - staff and managers alike - to
often a ‘grey area’, both company and combat things like fatigue and make
Rail workforce fatalities in road
individual have responsibilities to prevent sure the workforce get to work and
accidents do occur. In 2010-11,
such accidents. home again safely.
two road traffic collision fatalities
were recorded and, in November The issue prompted an industry steering
2012, a member of Network Rail group, including Network Rail, Balfour
staff on duty died following an Beatty, Office of Rail Regulation and the
accident where their car left the Health and Safety Executive to do some
A12 southbound carriageway at research through RSSB to get a better
Capel St Mary and struck a tree. understanding. Network Rail also ran focus
However an RSSB confidential groups with road vehicle drivers to find out
survey highlighted significant how they would best receive the messages
underreporting of road incidents in coming out of the work.
general; it is considered that - until
this improves - we are yet to see This has led to guidance documents being
the full extent of the problem. developed to help staff and their managers
identify the risk of fatigue when driving, how
to recognise the warning signs and cope
10 //

11. Overspeeding Newswire...
too fast
Sweden: Cleaner ‘steals train’,
strikes apartment block
On 15 January, a cleaner set an empty
coaching stock formation in motion
while working on it in a Stockholm
depot. The unit over-rode a set of buffer
stops and crashed into a block of flats.
The cleaner was seriously injured; no
We all know that driving too one in the block of flats was harmed.
fast is dangerous. True, there have While initial reports said that the cleaner
been many rail accidents caused by FOXHALL Jn, 1967 had driven the train without authority,
overspeeding throughout history, many further investigation revealed that it had
On 27 July 1967, a passenger train been stabled improperly and that her
– like the accident at Foxhall Junction
travelling at 70 mph derailed on part in the incident was accidental.
in 1967 (see box) – have resulted in
a crossover West of Didcot; two
derailment and death. Austria: Two trains
carriages overturned, killing one and
collide, injuring 39
Such accidents usually involve poor route injuring 33.
knowledge or – in the very earliest days of Early on 21 January, two commuter
The train had been put onto the relief trains collided head-on in Vienna. Initial
railways – a lack of continuous brakes or
line near Reading, but the driver reports suggest that the signaller gave
block signalling. Recently, however, the
was unaware of the track layout and one of the trains permission to proceed
daily logs have started to include incidents into an occupied section, single line
of overspeeding through Emergency Speed signalling at Foxhall Junction, where
working being in place after a points
Restrictions while engineering work is under a ‘green’ on the Relief meant that a failure earlier in the day. Thirty-nine
way on the adjacent line. train was actually signalled to cross people were injured, three of them
to the main. seriously. An investigation has been
Incidents have been recorded of trains launched.
passing through some 20 mph ESRs as As a result of this incident, the
much as 80. As yet, there have been no signalling at Foxhall was simplified. Portugal: Train rear-ends
accidents as a result, but it can be off- It was also decided that junction waiting train in platform
putting to say the least. indicators should always be provided At 21:18 (local time) on 21 January
for divergent routes – even if the 2013, an inter-city service struck
And at the very least it can shock staff and the rear of a regional train waiting at
divergent route was the Main one.
lead to possession overruns, delays to Alfarelos station. The inter-city train
services, disgruntled passengers and so passed a signal at danger at the station
on. throat. There were no fatalities, but
21 people sustained minor injuries. An
Let’s make sure it stays a rare log entry and investigation has been launched.
not the subject of an inquiry. Don’t forget to
Slovakia: Train strikes de-icing
check your WON.
vehicle, train driver killed
At 21:00 (local time) on 23 January,
an inter-city service struck a de-icing
vehicle near Liptovský Mikuláš. The
train driver was killed, but there were no
reported passenger injuries.
Australia: Buffer stop
collision injures 14
At 09:40 on 31 January, a commuter
train struck the buffer stops at
Cleveland station, injuring 14 people.
Early reports suggest that the braking
system was unable to cope with the
adhesion conditions brought about by
leaf fall.
South Africa: Rear-end
collision injures 200
At 07:00 (local time) on 31 January, at
least 200 people were hurt when two
passenger trains collided near Saulsville,
Pretoria. The train operator said the
cause was not known, but confirmed
that an earlier cable theft had resulted in
the automated signalling system being
off.
// 11

12. life-saving
survey
Right Track talks to senior human
factors specialist Toni Flint, who’s looking
for your views on suicide prevention Toni Flint
As you may remember from Right is working so far.’ member of the public who is suicidal or get
Track 2, the Network Rail and involved in dealing with a suicide incident.
Samaritans’ joint suicide prevention The survey will look at: We’d like to hear from people who have
programme – supported and endorsed participated in programme activities and
• Participation in suicide prevention
by ASLEF – was introduced in 2010. those who haven’t.’
programme activities
This has included ‘contacts training’ for
rail staff to understand how to intervene ‘We really need the input! Some
• Views on the programme’s effectiveness
to prevent suicides, and also to manage companies will be distributing paper copies
the personal trauma when these • Attitudes about suicide of the questionnaire or you can go online to
unfortunate events occur. complete it:
• Experiences of suicide on the railway https://www.surveymonkey.com/
RSSB’s senior human factors specialist, s/suicides.
• Examples of interventions that might
Toni Flint, is part of a team working on We need to get responses by 10 May. ’
have prevented a suicide on the railway
behalf of the whole rail industry, together
with the Tavistock Institute, to evaluate the ‘It should take about 25 minutes to
• Your ideas for how the suicide
programme. complete the questionnaire. Your answers
prevention programme could be
will remain anonymous and you don’t need
improved further
As Toni explains: to answer every question if you don’t want
Toni goes on: to.’
‘Rail staff are key to helping reduce the
number of suicide attempts occurring on ‘We’re interested in hearing from station For more information about the survey,
the network. We want the views of Right staff, train drivers, MOMs and any other contact RSSB on enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk
Track readers on how well the programme members of staff who might encounter a or telephone 020 3142 5400.
Take part in the
survey to help
evaluate the
programme:
Go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/
s/suicides
Takes about 25 minutes to complete
All answers are anonymous
You don’t have to answer all the
Suicide prevention is a really important topic for the rail industry. questions
Suicides account for over 200 fatalities a year. Rail staff can
Deadline is 10 May
be seriously affected by witnessing a suicide and dealing with
Unsure about anything?
its aftermath. Suicides also result in significant disruption for Contact RSSB:
passengers, and costs the industry millions every year. enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk
12 //

13. Moorgate
remembered
Aftermath of the Moorgate train crash. Copyright Associated Newspapers / Rex Features
How an accident on the Tube led to signalling changes on both
London Underground and the mainline railway
At 08:46 on 28 February 1975, a Tube train Postmortem evidence indicated that, at the
failed to slow on the approach to Moorgate. time of impact, the driver’s hand had been
It overran the platform, before colliding with on the brake handle, rather than in front of
the buffer stops and striking the end wall his face to protect it. Some passengers said
beyond. Forty-three people were killed, the train sped up when entering the station;
including the driver. some standing on the platform reported
that the driver had been sitting upright and
The accident took place on the route to looking straight ahead. The state of the
Finsbury Park, which then formed part of motor control gear suggested that power
the London Underground network, but is had been applied to the motors until within
now operated by First Capital Connect. 2 seconds of the impact.
The first ambulances arrived at 08:54; the Moorgate is a busy interchange for London
Medical evidence said it was possible Underground and mainline services into the
fire brigade followed soon after. Rescue the driver had been affected by amnesia. City of London. FCC runs the train service
was very difficult and the last survivor was However, the investigation report simply out of Moorgate to Finsbury Park and into
not freed for over 13 hours. The last body concluded that the accident was caused Hertfordshire
to be recovered was that of the driver by ‘a lapse on the part of the driver’, the
himself, but this was not achieved until inspector being unable to pin down a
20:00 on 5 March 1975. precise reason. ‘Moorgate Control’ comprises a
series of trip cocks, linked to timers,
Moorgate led to the introduction of which are designed to stop trains
‘Moorgate Control’ (known as ‘Trains travelling over a certain speed on the
Entering Terminal Stations’ on LU). This was approach to buffer stops.
fitted in all dead-end tunnels and termini
throughout the Underground system. It is
the forerunner of the TPWS OSS loop, as show green on the approach to a terminal
fitted on terminal lines. platform line. This effectively regarded the
fixed stop light at the buffers as a signal
British Rail also became concerned at the and required a ‘caution’ aspect to be
possibility of a similar event happening displayed at the preceding one. The display
on the national network. An early move of a caution aspect in turn caused the AWS
included changing the signalling system horn to be sounded if AWS was fitted. This
The end of the tunnel at so that a colour light signal would not had to be acknowledged or the train brakes
Moorgate’s platform 9 today would be automatically applied.
// 13

14. RAIB report brief:
James Street Liverpool South Parkway on the Merseyrail network.
Photo: Network Rail
At 23:29 on Saturday 22 October 2011, 16-year-old Georgia
Varley was struck and killed by the train she had left
30 seconds earlier.
James Street is on Merseyrails’ Wirral before the train moved or that he looked the ‘ready to start’ code before their door
line. Its metro services run into the late briefly in her direction but did not see her has fully closed. This serves to reduce the
evening and allow revellers to get round or that he did not see her because his dispatch time.
the Liverpool on a Saturday night. On attention was on his control panel and a
this particular occasion, Georgia Varley large group of people on the platform’. The report also details some of the
was leaning against a train as it began to work RSSB has done, particularly its
move out of the station. When she fell, Platform video camera footage shows the establishment in June 2011 of the Station
the platform edge gap was wide enough guard warning her to stand back in the Safety Improvement Project, which is
for her to fall through out onto the track. moments before the train departs and it is supported by ATOC, train operators,
Her post-mortem toxicology report likely, says RAIB, that he did this because Network Rail and the ORR. To date, the
recorded a blood alcohol concentration he thought it would be immediately project has delivered:
nearly three times the UK legal drink effective and because he had no direct and
drive limit. immediate way to stop the train.
STATION SAFETY WORKSHOP
RAIB’s report on the accident concluded While the rail industry’s overall safety record
that the guard dispatched the train while has improved in recent years, accidents at
Georgia was leaning against it, adding that the platform-train interface have increased,
it was possible he did this ‘because he had even accounting for an increased number
seen her but expected her to move away of passenger journeys over a period of time
which saw a known industry hazard (trains
with slam doors but no central locking)
withdrawn from service. RAIB feels that this
suggests the industry’s focus on operational
matters has failed to deliver improved safety
at the platform-train interface, and there
is a need to consider technical as well as
operational solutions to reduce the risk.
Action taken
RAIB notes that, after the accident, Check out Right Track 1 for our feature
Merseyrail added an alternative process on the Station Safety Workshop, held
to its dispatch procedure, which allows at RSSB in January 2012.
guards, at their discretion, to send a driver
14 //

15. Station safety Newswire...
• Increased awareness across all Germany: Rail worker killed by
operators and Network Rail through post-collision debris
one-to-one interviews, surveys, An investigation has been launched into
conferences, workshops and a track maintenance worker killed by
newsletters debris thrown when an express struck a
wagon at Reinbek on 7 February.
• A network of Station Safety
Improvement Champions in each of the India: Station stampede kills 36
supporting companies On 11 February 2013, 36 people
were killed and 30 were injured when
• An improved understanding of the risk a footbridge collapsed at Allahabad
with publication of a special statistics as passengers rushed for a train. The
report station was overcrowded due to more
than 10,000 people attending the Hindu
• New tools and guides to improve risk festival of Kumbh Mela.
assessment and competence and Japan: Train strikes lorry and
mounts station platform, 16
• A new Station Safety Resource Centre
injured
on Opsweb to provide operators with
easy access to all project outputs and At 15:50 (local time) on 12 February
other relevant information 2013, a passenger train struck a lorry at
a level crossing, derailed and mounted
The project continues with the objective the platform at Arai station in Takasago
of developing a holistic approach to the City. Sixteen people were injured,
including the train driver.
assessment of all types of station risk,
specialist research into potential engineering Ireland: Passenger’s foot severed
and asset solutions. Recognising the The second is for Merseyrail, in consultation in fall between train and platform
future challenges of passenger growth, with other relevant organisations, to At Tara Street, Dublin, on 21 February a
ageing population and station investment ‘evaluate equipment and methods to passenger’s foot was severed when she
opportunities, the aim is now to develop a reduce the likelihood of persons falling lost her footing and fell between a DART
longer-term strategy for the co-ordinated through the platform edge gap and to train and the platform while alighting.
improvement of station safety across the implement these measures when practical’. UK: ‘Black Death’ skeletons
whole rail network. found in Crossrail closet
The third is for the ORR to make sure there
Recommendations and further is industry guidance on reducing the risk at Crossrail workers were shocked to find
action the platform-train interface. 13 skeletons buried under Charterhouse
Square in the City of London. The 13
RAIB has made three recommendations A cross-industry workshop on the issues met their end almost seven centuries
to the industry: one is for Merseyrail to raised by the report was held at the ORR ago; experts are linking them with the
Black Death, as records show that a
evaluate and where practical improve the on 27 March 2013. We hope to report on it
burial ground for plague victims once
means of train dispatch. in the next issue of Right Track. existed nearby.
UK: Passenger and revenue
stats break records
RED 28 covered the risks at the The latest ORR figures show that there
platform-train interface. Copies were 385 million passenger journeys on
are still available from RSSB – the GB rail network from 1 October to
contact enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk 31 December 2012 – that’s 14 million
for details. more than during the same period in
2011. Growth was evident across all
sectors, with 262 million journeys on
London & South East services, 32.6
million on inter-city routes and 90.4
million on regional trains. The number of
kilometres travelled by passengers also
rose by 2.8% to 14.6 billion. In cash
terms, the total franchised passenger
revenue reached £1.96billion. This
is the highest recorded revenue
level generated in any quarter. Non-
franchised passenger revenue also rose
to a new high of £12.7million.
Photo: ATOC
// 15

16. SPADtalk
So, from 2 March 2013, the term ‘SPAD’
applies only to those incidents previously
dealt with under Category A. For category
B, C and D, events will continue to be
investigated as before, but will be referred
to as ‘operating incidents’ as opposed to
being labelled SPADs from the outset. The
calling a SPAD a SPAD
emphasis will be more on what the cause
of the incident was, rather than on the fact
that a signal was passed. For example, a
signal returning to danger in front of a train,
because of a failure of a relay, is primarily a
signalling equipment failure, so a problem
with the asset rather than a SPAD. The fact
that the train passed a red is consequential,
and not really at the heart of what went
wrong.
The safety benefit is that it focuses
any investigation on the causes of the
incident. For example, a signaller could
place a signal to danger in full and proper
accordance with the Rule Book (Category
C), and the driver may stop in time, or they
might pass the red. In any case, whatever
it was that led the signaller to act needs
to be investigated as the cause. The only
difference now, is that even if the driver
does pass a red in a Category C-style
operating incident, it won’t be labelled
If a signal is at danger, and a train goes the Railways and Other Guided Transport a SPAD. This brings such events into
past it without authority, then it’s always Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS). line with all other types of accident and
been regarded as a ‘SPAD’. However, As part of this quest for consistency, ROGS incident – none of which have such specific
since 2 March 2013, new definitions have excludes those incidents in categories B, categories.
been applied across the GB mainline C and D from being reported as a SPAD. For more information, contact RSSB:
railway to align us with European practice. Indeed, in mainland Europe, only the enquirydesk@rssb.co.uk
category A SPADs are actually considered
When the term ‘signal passed at danger’
SPADs.
was coined, it also included ‘technical
SPADs’, for example a ‘green’ returning to
danger in front of a train which was unable What’s happening to SPAD categories?
to stop before passing it. Whereas this
was ‘technically’ a SPAD, it was recognised These remain known as Category A SPADs,
that the circumstances are different when including use of the A1, A2, A3 and A4 sub-
it returns to danger for a ‘technical’ reason. Category A categories.
A driver passes a signal at danger when Although the letter ‘A’ is not really required,
Hence the term! there was sufficient time/distance to stop the term has been retained to save changing
at it. associated reporting forms, and also to
This was later refined when technical
recognise the differing types of event that
SPADs were termed ‘category B SPADs’, might lead to it.
with the ‘traditional’ SPAD being termed
‘category A’. Two further categories, ‘C’ Category B
and ‘D’, were also added. A signal returns to danger in front of a
train because of equipment failure.
However, the European Railway Safety
Directive sets requirements on each EU
Category C These are known as ‘operating incidents’, and
A signal is returned to danger deliberately, so no longer referred to as SPADs. The actual
country to have some consistency in the whether manually or automatically. cause of the incident (reversion, replacement
way rail safety is managed – primarily so or runaway) is the overriding concern.
Category D
it’s possible to run trains across national A runaway vehicle(s) passes a signal at
borders more easily. danger.
In the UK, the directive is translated as
RIGHT Right Track is available to
download from Opsweb -
righttrack@rssb.co.uk www.opsweb.co.uk