RAIB publish report into collision and derailment at North Rode (18/12/2008)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

The full report is available on the website of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Summary

1 At 17:58 hrs on 18 December 2008, southbound passenger train reporting number 2K14, the 17:10 hrs service from Manchester Deansgate to Stoke-on-Trent, was running between Macclesfield and Congleton when it struck an unoccupied car that had rolled from a car park down onto the track. The train derailed before braking to a stop.

2 Northbound passenger train reporting number 1M53, the 15:00 hrs service from Bristol Temple Meads to Manchester Piccadilly, passed the stationary train, struck debris from the collision and braked to a stop.

3 The train driver was injured as a consequence of the accident. The infrastructure, the southbound train and the car sustained extensive damage; the northbound train sustained minor damage.

[Phil Farmer]

What strikes me the most about both this incident and others incidents, investigated and reported upon by the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch), is the length of time it takes to complete the final report.
I acknowledge that a serious accident would involve quite protracted investigation and research ^ but this particular incident, which although admittedly, could have had far more serious consequences, didn^t seem to involve a great deal in the way of investigation, yet still took just under a year to complete.
I would have thought that the facts of this incident could have been reported on in no more than eight weeks.
Perhaps it is an indication of the low staffing levels or heavy workloads that the RAIB may carry.

[paul7575]

They have to prioritise their work, it can't possibly be 'first come first served', ie done in sequence.  Someone there has to make a judgement about where to task the staff every time a new accident occurs...

Paul

[ChrisB]

And if the driver's story doesn't match the signallers......