Train derails and crashes into concrete barrier near Newcastle depot

[whole diary]

[RichT54]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has begun collecting evidence after a TransPennine Express service derailed near the Heaton depot in Newcastle.

The train derailed at around 6.30AM this morning (22 March) before colliding into what appears to be a concrete barrier.

No commuters were on board when the train derailed and it has been confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the incident.

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/train-derails-and-crashes-into-concrete-barrier-near-newcastle-depot-22-03-2022/

Edited to show the photos at full size.

[ChrisB]

It needs to be made VERY clear that the train was ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock)/Out of service at the time

[stuving]

Well, whatever happened there? A lot of heads are being scratched over it, some of them even unsure which way the train was going!

I've seen one thing presented as fact, and inside information: that the train missed a signal and forced trailing points against it. We also have the pictures, and if you look at the bottom one of the set you can see a distinct wiggle in the track just this side of what would be the facing points after the adverse trailing ones.

That's enough to put together a narrative, in which the first four vehicles get through the trailing points largely on the track (i.e. following OK), but the fifth derails to the right. That might be due to just a lower axle loading, or maybe a bit of train of track jammed in the flangeway - or something else. The train takes the left track at the following facing points, but the derailed final vehicle can't. As the two tracks separate the coupling bar pulls at an increasing angle, though as it is nearly 2 m long this unconventional mode of progress can cope with tracks some way apart.

There is an increasing side force on those two vehicles, which drags the track into that wiggle, and then the fifth vehicle gets pulled across its track to follow its mates. I doubt that it would topple at this point, but by now there is s significant level difference between the two tracks. There is a concrete retaining wall at the step, which appears to have had a cable duct made of concrete slabs built into its top (though it's so wrecked you can't really see). There is also a steel handrail, which got flattened.

The left side wheels of vehicle five dropped below those on the right, which canted it over, but the interaction with the wall and the track below it kept the train from jumping down the step. It must have been making a dreadful noise for the last few metres!

Or something like that. Since it was in a depot, RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) may not be too bothered over this one. But my guess is that they may be quite interested in how the driver came to make that error (assuming that bit is true as reported).

[bradshaw]

Location shown between concrete container site and the double building opposite

[Oxonhutch]

That concrete looks like signal cable troughing. If it is and in use,  there is going to be extensive damage in that department too.

[JayMac]

I believe it's a raised walkway for access to train cabs.

[paul7575]

You could easily damage the bogie mountings doing that sort of thing.

Ah…   

[eightonedee]

I hope Hitachi remembered to take a swipe off Trans-Pennine's credit card before they leased it out to them!

[infoman]

Three things

1)just wondering if one of the concrete slabs COULD have been dislodge while the train was going by,causing the unit off the rail.

2) Why does the media go on about chaos,it was one train in a siding.

3) Chaos was when on a sunday morning the metro trains could not get out of the depot in Newcastle as the only way out was blocked.

I think it was due to over head power line being pulled down

[stuving]

Three things

1)just wondering if one of the concrete slabs COULD have been dislodge while the train was going by,causing the unit off the rail.

2) Why does the media go on about chaos,it was one train in a siding.

3) Chaos was when on a sunday morning the metro trains could not get out of the depot in Newcastle as the only way out was blocked.

I think it was due to over head power line being pulled down

This video shows the retaining wall that 802207 got half on top of, but only at the start and a bit at the end since the point of the video is 180105 which mostly blocks your view. That answers (1), as clearly that train didn't derail with a jump two feet upwards and sideways too.

That is the "Sidings Line" - the main access route to Newcastle station for DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). There is another access at the other end, but it means reversals and no doubt units are parked in the wrong order. Hence it took a while to get all the stock out and into service. Whether you think that explains (2), given a bit of the usual over-reporting of any "chaos", is up to you.

As to why the "step" has been built up with concrete slabs, that's still not clear. Since this isn't a stabling road it's hard to see why access to cabs would be required. But it doesn't look a good place to put cables either.

[RichT54]

Any ideas whether the units are repairable or will have to be scrapped?

[infoman]

Is there any way of telling which way the train was moving?
Although it looks like the power car was trailing with the "RED LIGHTS" to the rear,
the lights could have been changed from white to red to show "the incident"

[paul7575]

Is there any way of telling which way the train was moving?
Although it looks like the power car was trailing with the "RED LIGHTS" to the rear,
the lights could have been changed from white to red to show "the incident"

I’m putting my money on the TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) unit attempting the same move the GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line) 180 made in the video, and for some reason the last car has gone along the wrong line at the points.  I wouldn’t like to guess the reason.

Paul

[infoman]

Can't see any "hand points" just wondering if some one had pulled the hand points a bit early,
 and the last vehicle started to go down a different set of rails.

[Witham Bobby]

Can't see any "hand points" just wondering if some one had pulled the hand points a bit early,
 and the last vehicle started to go down a different set of rails.

Hand points can usually be run-through without damage

It's where they are connected to a lever frame, point locks, or point motor that run-throughs cause damage.