Derailment of empty passenger train at Paddington causes major disruption - 16 June 2016

[whole diary]

[BerkshireBugsy]

Have you tried tweeting GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

Nope - I hardly use Twitter but will give it a go.

Ta TG

[TaplowGreen]

Have you tried tweeting GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)?

Nope - I hardly use Twitter but will give it a go.

Ta TG

I did it on your & my own behalf.......the response was "we are expecting a normal service to run tomorrow".......fingers crossed! 🙏

[broadgage]

I am trying to plan my journey from Reading to Blackfriers tomorrow and need to be there for 9am - anyone have any indications as to how services will be running in the morning or is it wait and see?

Might be better to use the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) service to Waterloo ? It is very slow, but time is saved by avoiding crossing London on the underground, and more importantly no risk of being stuck on the underground due to LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd) problems.

Blackfriars is just about walking distance from Waterloo, and taxis are readily available and much more affordable from Waterloo than from Paddington.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I am trying to plan my journey from Reading to Blackfriers tomorrow and need to be there for 9am - anyone have any indications as to how services will be running in the morning or is it wait and see?

Might be better to use the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) service to Waterloo ? It is very slow, but time is saved by avoiding crossing London on the underground, and more importantly no risk of being stuck on the underground due to LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd) problems.

Blackfriars is just about walking distance from Waterloo, and taxis are readily available and much more affordable from Waterloo than from Paddington.

Funnily enough I had thought about this - it may be the best option

[phile]

Normal service on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) resumed today.     Heathrow EXPECT to resume tomorrow.

[grahame]

Heathrow EXPECT to resume tomorrow.

Is that Heathrow EXPRESS or Heathrow CONNECT?  I rather like "Heathrow Expect" for a semi-fast 

[phile]

Heathrow EXPECT to resume tomorrow.

Is that Heathrow EXPRESS or Heathrow CONNECT?  I rather like "Heathrow Expect" for a semi-fast 

Can't remember which one now but both normal anyway now.

[Electric train]

New report suggesting the accident was due to fasting for Ramadan

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/train-derailment-at-paddington-may-have-been-result-of-driver-fasting-for-ramadan-a3324216.html

[ChrisB]

...may have been a contributing factor....I think is more accurate

[LiskeardRich]

What the RAiB actually said is here, edited due to length, left the Ramadam bit and another bit that concerns me that it says Paddington is too busy for signallers to correctly follow procedure, I assume or hope this is misinterpreted

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/paddington-safety-digest/derailment-at-paddington-16-june-2016

, but he had only driven over the link line once during his training, and on one further occasion since qualifying.

Among the written special instructions to the signallers at TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about) is one that requires that, when a movement starting from a position-light signal requires to run via another position-light signal before reaching a platform, siding or main aspect signal, the signaller must clear all the intermediate position-light signals in the route first. When it is ‘absolutely essential to route such a movement as far as an intermediate position-light signal only’, the signaller is required to reach a clear understanding with the driver before the movement starts. Managers at TVSC said that strict compliance with this instruction is not possible at Paddington, because the station is very busy. However, the conversation between the signaller and the driver should have resulted in the driver understanding that his train could not enter the station until the 18:12 hrs departure had left.

The driver of train 3H52 told RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) that he had woken during the night before the accident at 02:30 hrs, to eat a light meal, as part of his observance of Ramadan. He went back to bed at 03:30 hrs, slept for a further seven hours before coming on duty at 13:07 hrs, and had not had anything else to eat or drink before the accident occurred. From the evidence available, RAIB is unable to determine whether this interruption to his sleep, and subsequent fasting, was a factor in what happened on this occasion. However, RAIB observes that there is research showing that fasting can affect people’s concentration levels. RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) has published guidance for the railway industry on the topic in document S220 ‘Effects of fasting on fitness to drive’.

[patch38]

I suspect a large proportion of our esteemed media will skip the fact that Paddington could be perceived to be over-busy and focus on the fasting issue, as the Standard has. I think I could write the Daily Wail headline for you now. 

[ChrisB]

, but he had only driven over the link line once during his training, and on one further occasion since qualifying.

That I think is the main reason, along with the fact that it was noted in the report that the driver had the track layout in his possession, and time to refer to it while awaiting clearance, but didn't familiarise himself with it even though he had only been over that section twice before.

[broadgage]

I doubt that lack of food for the time stated would have any noticeable consequences for an individual in normal health and properly nourished beforehand.
I have gone without food for longer than that without any apparent ill effect.

I would however be concerned that no fluid was taken for many hours and in very warm weather IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly).
I would suggest that Muslims should consider if full fasting is sensible or prudent when carrying out a safety critical job such as driving a train or other vehicle.
Whilst I am not aware of the details, AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know)  the religion does permit of not fasting if so doing could result in or worsen illness.

[Electric train]

Like all these type of incidents there will be more than causal factor.  A model used if often referred to as "The Swiss Cheese Model"  A causal factor being a hole in a layer of cheese, some holes are larger than others, its when holes in the layers of Swiss cheese line up all the way through represents to incident as seen; prevent of the holes lining up and the incident is averted. the prevention can be deliberate (that's what safety systems do) and then there is the aversion by luck, quick thinking ie good fortune.

Patch38 you are more than likely correct the media and in particular certain parts of the print media will focus on the human factor that being the drivers religion, as it grabs headlines

[Tim]

Patch38 you are more than likely correct the media and in particular certain parts of the print media will focus on the human factor that being the drivers religion, as it grabs headlines

agreed, It isn't the driver's religion that is relevant.  It is the driver's behaviour which may have been motived by his religion.  The religion per se is not a problem and of course a strictly observant Muslim might be lower risk for exhibiting other dangerous behaviours such as turning up to work with a hang-over.   It is important to keep these things clearly separate and absolutely right and fair to judge, praise or criticise someone on the basis of their behaviour.  Doing so on the basis of their belief is much more dodgy.  But I would have thought that there was a general requirement for all safety critical job holders to be adequately healthy, rested, fed and watered before starting a shift.