Bridge strike near Hungerford - 22 Feb 15

[whole diary]

[a-driver]

If that was how it was reported to the police that the train "jumped off the track and landed back on it" and then "jumped about a mile up the track" then the witness has very good eyesight!

I would imagine a report like that would mean that the whole train would have been inspected as well as the track for any sign that part of the train had become derailed.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Where is Jenny Agutter when you need her?

[TaplowGreen]

^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.

Typical.............surely it could have jumped OVER the debris?  

[thetrout]

Must have been the wrong sort of rocks........... (groan)

[Palfers]

Haha I'm just imagining the hst going around like the opening credits on have I got news for you!

[stuving]

RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) is investigating a collision between a high speed train (HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) and a bridge parapet which had fallen onto the railway at Oak Hill, an unclassified road off the A4 on the edge of the village of Froxfield, between Hungerford and Bedwyn. The accident occurred at about 17:31 hrs on Sunday 22 February 2015, when the heavily loaded 16:34 hrs First Great Western service from London Paddington to Penzance (train reporting number 1C89) hit brick debris while travelling at about 90 mph (145 km/h). The train driver had no opportunity to brake before hitting the debris, and the impact lifted the front of the train. Fortunately, the train did not derail, and the driver applied the emergency brake. The train stopped after travelling a further 730 metres (800 yards). There were no injuries. The leading power car sustained underframe damage and there was damage to the train^s braking system.

The bridge parapet had originally been struck at about 17:20 hrs by a reversing articulated lorry. The lorry driver had turned off the A4 at a junction just north of the railway bridge, and crossed over the railway before encountering a canal bridge 40 metres further on which he considered to be too narrow for his vehicle. A pair of road signs located just south of the A4 junction warn vehicle drivers of a hump back bridge and double bends but there were no weight or width restriction signs. The lorry driver stopped before the canal bridge and attempted to reverse round a bend and back over the railway bridge without assistance, and was unaware when the rear of his trailer first made contact with, and then toppled, the brick parapet on the east side of the railway bridge. The entire parapet, weighing around 13 tonnes, fell onto the railway, obstructing both tracks. This was witnessed by a car driver who was travelling behind the lorry. The car driver left his vehicle to alert the lorry driver and he then contacted the emergency services by dialing 999 on his mobile phone at about 17:21 hrs.
 

Image of debris on track before the collision, looking east. Train 1C89 approached on the right-hand track (image courtesy of a member of the public)

RAIB^s investigation will consider the sequence of events and factors that led to the accident. The investigation will include a review of the adequacy of road signage and the overall response to the emergency call made by the motorist who witnessed the collapse of the bridge parapet. It will identify any safety lessons from the accident and post-accident response.

RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigations by the railway industry or safety authority.

We will publish our findings at the conclusion of the investigation. This report will be available on our website.

[ChrisB]

Here's hoping that plates with emergency numbers are recommended NOT to be affixed to bridge parapets....

[stuving]

Here's hoping that plates with emergency numbers are recommended NOT to be affixed to bridge parapets....

Why not? Is it that likely anyone will demolish them on both sides?

[ChrisB]

Who knows? Is it likely that trucks will reverse back into bridge parapets?

[Trowres]

Dialled 999 - about 17:21
HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at 90mph hit debris - about 17:31

Still something to be said for red knickers on a stick...hope some improvements come out of this as the issue is nationwide.

[LiskeardRich]

Who knows? Is it likely that trucks will reverse back into bridge parapets?

Is this the second occurrence in recent times or have their been other instances. The other instance I'm aware of was the concrete mixer falling onto a train through a parapet.

[LiskeardRich]

Dialled 999 - about 17:21
HST^▸ (High Speed Train) at 90mph hit debris - about 17:31

Still something to be said for red knickers on a stick...hope some improvements come out of this as the issue is nationwide.

Somebody is going to have questions to answer if those timings are correct. But whenever I've tried to report an emergency the emergency call has taken so long before they even decide what to do, I fear this may come down to the 999 operators delays and questioning process.

10 mins to take a 999 call, relay to signaller, stop trains is a little concerning

[ChrisB]

Oh God, it takes the 999 operator several minutes to collect all your details & details of the event you're reporting. I also suspect they don't have direct contact to the correct signalling centre (why would they, they're not rail related & working out where each signalling centre is & what area it covers isn't there job) and only call a central NR^» (Network Rail - home page) centre....where they do have to locate the event & relay the message.

Not a hope in 10 minutes. Only way would be to put the right phone number on each bridge. But then it's open to pranksters.

[bobm]

Only way would be to put the right phone number on each bridge. But then it's open to pranksters.

Precedent already set - numbers are on many level crossings.

[brizzlechris]

There already seems to be a more direct number (assuming it is still current) in situ at some locations...

e.g. https://goo.gl/maps/1hlOd