North London freight train derailment, October 15th 2013

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Prior to the incident at Gloucester, covered elsewhere on this forum, there was another container train derailment. This time on the North London Line near Camden Road station. The line here is likely to remain closed for several days also.

From ITV News:

'Extensive damage' after north London derailment

Network Rail says a derailment early this morning at Camden Road has caused extensive damage to overhead wires. It means services will not be run between Stratford and Gospel Oak until further notice. Early indications show that the line is expected to remain closed for a number of days.

Damage caused by this morning's derailment. Credit: Network Rail

In a statement, Network Rail said: "Over the coming days Network Rail engineers will be working tirelessly to reopen the railway as quickly as possible. This work will involve large pieces of plant and equipment, including a very large road crane.

"We will be keeping the local community and passengers up to date with the situation as our work progresses."

A busy couple of days for the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch), who are also investigating this incident.

[eightf48544]

Not being superstitious  don't incidents like this come in threes?

[ChrisB]

Someone started a rumour that it was a nuclear flask train which caused consternation for a while (Step forward Camden local rag)

[paul7575]

Someone started a rumour that it was a nuclear flask train which caused consternation for a while (Step forward Camden local rag)

They're pretty desperate to keep that pot boiling, but are the reflecting local opinion?    IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they went off on exactly the same tangent when a train of ballast or aggregate wagons derailed along there a good few years back...

At least some of the local rag's comments section criticise it for blatant scaremongering...

Paul

[JayMac]

Not being superstitious  don't incidents like this come in threes?

It appears your prediction may have come true, eightf.

See: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13070.0

[eightf48544]

Unfortunately it appears so.

[Brucey]

London Overground have tweeted they are expecting to run a normal timetable from 0600 tomorrow (21/10/2013) morning.

[eightf48544]

Network Rail seem to be getting better at clearing up from maor derailments, witness this incident and Gloucester.

[JayMac]

From the Rail Accident Investigation Branch:

RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) investigation - Camden Road derailment, 15 October 2013

The train involved was travelling from Lawley Street in Birmingham to Felixstowe and comprised a class 70 locomotive hauling 22 flat wagons loaded with containers. The fifth wagon on the train was carrying two containers. The container at the leading end was loaded with scrap metal and the container at the trailing end was empty.

At around 02:40 hrs, the rear bogie of the fifth wagon derailed in the vicinity of the disused station at Primrose Hill as the train was travelling over the spur which links the West Coast Main Line with the North London line. The train was travelling at around 17 mph (27 km/h) at the time. The train then ran with the bogie derailed for a distance of about 900 metres.

As the train joined the North London line at Camden Road West Junction, the derailed bogie struck the points, causing the rear bogie to collapse and the front bogie of the same wagon to derail. The rear container on the wagon fell from the train, and collided with an overhead line stanchion. The damage to the wagons in the vicinity of the derailment split the train^s brake pipe and this resulted in the train being stopped automatically.

The route through Camden Road was closed for six days as it was necessary for Network Rail to arrange for key track and overhead line equipment components to be specially manufactured. London Overground services and freight train operations between the Midlands and the Thames-side ports/East Anglia were severely disrupted throughout this period.

The RAIB^s investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events. It will include consideration of the distribution of the load on the wagon that derailed and the condition of the track in the area. It will also take into consideration the findings from other similar accidents that the RAIB has investigated, most notably the derailment of a container train at Duddeston Junction on 10 August 2007 (RAIB report 16/2008).

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The RAIB will publish its findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on the RAIB website.

You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when the RAIB publishes its report and bulletins.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has released its report into a derailment at Primrose Hill / Camden Road West Junction 15 October 2013.

RAIB has made three recommendations and identified a learning point.

Summary:

At about 02:40 hrs on 15 October 2013, a freight train travelling from Birmingham to Felixstowe derailed close to the site of the former Primrose Hill station in north-west London. There were no injuries as a consequence of the accident, although there was damage to the train and to railway infrastructure. The North London route, which carries London Overground passenger services as well as freight trains, was subsequently closed for six days.

One wagon in the train ran derailed until the train reached a junction near Camden Road station. At this point, an empty container toppled off the wagon and damaged overhead line electrification equipment. The derailment was caused by a combination of the track geometry and condition, as well as the longitudinal and lateral asymmetric loading of the wagon which reduced its resistance to derailment on twisted track.

The RAIB has made three recommendations. These cover:
- the provision by Network Rail of guidance to managers responsible for track maintenance on the actions to be taken if measurements by track recording vehicles do not take place as planned;
- consideration of the factors that contribute to the derailment of unevenly loaded container wagons, and the associated risk, with cross-industry evaluation of the case for additional measures to mitigate the risk; and
- the clarification by RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) of the requirements for the design and acceptance of freight wagons.

As a learning point from this accident, the RAIB has also identified that Network Rail should give particular attention to the possible consequences of a high turnover of responsible staff during reorganisations.

[rogerpatenall]

I wonder what will happen to the steam excursion from Newbury due over that stretch tomorrow - is there a viable alternative within gauge for a Brit?

[ChrisB]

THe accident happened a year ago - I hope they've fixed it by now :-)

[SandTEngineer]

I notice that once again RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) is 'concerned' about NRs^» (Network Rail - home page) staffing reduction policy.  A bit late now its been going on for over 6 years now

[rogerpatenall]

THe accident happened a year ago - I hope they've fixed it by now :-)

Thanks, Chris. Will now write out ten times 'I must read the question properly'

[chrisr_75]

There also seem to be some similarities to the Gloucester derailment, particularly in terms of track condition & maintenance and how container carrying bogie wagons are loaded:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-29553760