Bridge strike near Hungerford - 22 Feb 15

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

How do they apparently have the ability to provide more up to date and detailed information than First Great Western? 

I suspect they have access to certain industry feeds. Or are very good at watching RealTime Trains minute by minute. No. Definitely the former based on what they've posted.

[JayMac]

The latest is that Network Rail have checked the rails with ultrasonic equipment and the less high tech LPT (Liquid Penetrative Testing) dye test. Superficial damage to the rails and a couple of sleepers with minor damage that can be replaced at a later date.

Also, it's been determined that it's safe for trains to run under the damaged overbridge.

[ChrisB]

Time for phones to be fitted to bridges to enable emergency calls to signallers to alert them? Or at least signs with a phone contact number perhaps? (a lot cheaper option - but puts numbers into public domain)

[stuving]

Time for phones to be fitted to bridges to enable emergency calls to signallers to alert them? Or at least signs with a phone contact number perhaps? (a lot cheaper option - but puts numbers into public domain)

They should already have them*, according to the relevant document.

Part of the standard notice wording should read:

"In the event of any road vehicle striking this bridge please phone
THE RAIL AUTHORITY on
020 7928 2090".

However, the document starts by saying:

3.1 Network Rail is carrying out a programme to install identification plates at all bridges over the railway. These plates give contact details to enable a bridge strike to be promptly reported to Network Rail Operations Control.

Generally, two identification plates are installed on each bridge, in positions where the public should be able to read the instructions.

The principle that identification plates as shown in Appendix A may be erected by Network Rail on bridges over the railway not owned by Network Rail has been accepted. The agreement of the bridge owner to the location of the plates, the method of fixing, and arrangements for their installation and maintenance is to be obtained.

Identification plates should record the ownership of the bridge.

That was dated 2008, so I guess they will not have put them up everywhere yet.

* Notices, not phones.

[ChrisB]

I've seen a couple - not exactly "in-your-face" as a driver though.

[bobm]

I understand the driver whose train hit the debris was the same driver who was involved in the fallen signal incident near Newbury. He must hate the Berks & Hants line.

[tomL]

I understand the driver whose train hit the debris was the same driver who was involved in the fallen signal incident near Newbury. He must hate the Berks & Hants line.

In the words of Del Boy "Stay lucky!...."

[hoover50]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have also said on twitter that passengers will be compensated following this incident. An incident that would normally fall outside of FGW's Passenger Charter compensation commitments.

I guess the insurance company of the lorry involved is going to have to stump up rather a lot of dosh in compensation to Network Rail and FGW 

[TaplowGreen]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have also said on twitter that passengers will be compensated following this incident. An incident that would normally fall outside of FGW's Passenger Charter compensation commitments.

I guess the insurance company of the lorry involved is going to have to stump up rather a lot of dosh in compensation to Network Rail and FGW 

Do you mean in respect of Consequential losses? .......now which is the organisation that always refuses to do so?


In all seriousness though, a great effort by NE's engineers  to get it  up and running again in time for this morning's rush hour.

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Passengers stranded for hours after train hits debris

A lorry hit the east wall of the railway bridge at Froxfield causing debris to fall on to the track

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded for several hours after a train hit debris on a railway line in Wiltshire.

The debris had fallen from a bridge after it was struck by a lorry in Froxfield on Sunday.

The driver of the First Great Western 16:34 service from London Paddington to Penzance needed treatment for shock but no other injuries were reported.

Network Rail said the line had since been reopened after repairs were made.

Andy Mellors, deputy managing director of First Great Western, said: "The train ran into the debris and caused some damaged to the underneath of the train including the braking system and that meant the train had to have some attention on site before we could get it to move forward."

He added the train company would be carrying out a review into what happened so any lessons could be learned from it.

One passenger told BBC Wiltshire: "All of a sudden there was an almighty bang, the lights went out and that was it.

"We all looked at each other and panicked and thought what has just happened, have we derailed, what's gone on?"

She said passengers initially thought the train had struck a tree.

The train was moved on by 23.30 GMT after emergency repairs were made.

The rubble from the railway bridge has now been cleared from the railway track

[ChrisB]

let's hope Mr Stobart doesn't send another errant truck that way until the repairs have been made....hate to think what might happen.

[stuving]

let's hope Mr Stobart doesn't send another errant truck that way until the repairs have been made....hate to think what might happen.

Indeed, and it's not left to chance. As it says in the introduction to "Response to a Bridge Strike over the Railway":

1.3 When a bridge parapet is significantly damaged or even totally demolished in a bridge strike, urgent action is required to put interim arrangements in place to enable train services to be restored with minimum delay whilst maintaining the safety of the railway and the highway or road pending reconstruction or repairs.

Interim arrangements which include traffic management and temporary safety barriers and fencing, must be sufficient to prevent an errant vehicle from landing on the railway. There has been an occurrence of a second bridge strike before damage from a previous strike has been reconstructed or repaired resulting in a vehicle on the railway, when the robustness of the interim arrangements was insufficient.

Later, there is a section called "Acceptable temporary safety barriers and fencing", and where the Highways Agency are involved you''ll have to use something off their "LIST OF EN1317 COMPLIANT ROAD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS"

Incidentally, the following note also appears in that procedure:

The Highways Agency considers that Network Rail Operations Control should not be provided with telephone numbers of Highways Agency control centres, but that the 999 system should be used. Police will forward the call to the appropriate control centre.

Now why does that not surprise me? Something to do with their reputation, I think.

[thetrout]

Time for phones to be fitted to bridges to enable emergency calls to signallers to alert them? Or at least signs with a phone contact number perhaps? (a lot cheaper option - but puts numbers into public domain)

There are already. Some of them showing their age as they reference "Railtrack"

However if you're in a single vehicle collision with a bridge as a sole driver with no passengers and become seriously injured... It might make phoning Network Rail impossible... So a different solution may be needed.

[hoover50]

From the Gazzete & Herald:

A train ^jumped^ off the tracks in Froxfield, near Marlborough, when it hit debris that had been knocked onto the railway line by a lorry which collided with a bridge.

Train services between Pewsey and Hungerford were severely disrupted after the Eddie Stobart lorry hit the bridge at Oak Hill at around 5.15pm last night.

The 4.34pm First Great Western train from Paddington to Penzance collided with the debris at around 5.25pm.

No passengers were injured but the train was unable to be moved until around 10pm while safety checks were carried out on both the train and bridge.

Boat owner David Hartland, who moors near to where the incident happened, said:^I looked out of the window of my boat and I could see this lorry was stuck. It shouldn^t have been on the bridge but it must have been following a sat-nav.

^The bridge fell onto a track as a whole and there was another guy who was just driving past and he stopped and rang the police straight away to tell them to stop the trains.

^About five or ten minutes later the train came along and hit the bridge and then jumped off the track and landed back on it and then it jumped about a mile up the track.

^It was quite an event. All I heard was crash, bang, wallop.^

Network Rail engineers worked through the night to clear the track and make sure the bridge is safe.

A spokesman said: ^Staff from both Network Rail and First Great Western were despatched to site immediately.

^Both lines to and from Westbury were closed, with services diverted via Melksham, while work took place to clear the debris, repair the train and secure the bridge.^

The train arrived at Westbury at around 11pm and the line reopened at approximately 5am today.

Road replacement coaches, taxis and additional train services were put on while the line was closed.

A First Great Western spokesman said: "We're very grateful that no-one was injured in what could have been a much more serious incident, and would like to thank all the passengers on board for their patience in difficult circumstances while we worked to get people moving as quickly and safely as possible.

"Full refunds have been offered to everyone on board, and we will be contacting each of them to see if there is anything further we can do to help."

Customers on other services delayed by this incident are likely to be entitled to compensation.

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/towns/marlboroughheadlines/11811680.Rail_services_delayed_after_train_hits_rubble_on_track_at_Froxfield/

[ChrisB]

^About five or ten minutes later the train came along and hit the bridge and then jumped off the track and landed back on it and then it jumped about a mile up the track.

yeah, right.