Eighteen hurt in train and lorry crash in Suffolk - 17 August 2010

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch):

Investigation into a collision between a passenger train and a lorry on a level crossing near Sudbury, Suffolk, on 17 August 2010

The RAIB is carrying out an investigation into a collision that occurred at Sewage Works Lane level crossing, 1.5 miles south of Sudbury in Suffolk, on 17 August 2010.

The accident occurred at around 17:35 hrs when train 2T27, the 17:31 hrs service from Sudbury to Marks Tey, struck the trailer of a loaded articulated tanker lorry on the crossing, causing the leading carriage of the two-car class 156 diesel multiple unit to derail.

There were about 19 passengers on the train and two crew members (driver and conductor).  It is reported that all persons on the train received injuries as a consequence of the impact with one passenger sustaining critical injuries.

The impact separated the tractor unit of the lorry from the tank causing a major spillage of the tank^s contents.  Some diesel fuel was also released during the accident.

Sewage Works Lane crossing is a ^user worked crossing^, as is often found at the intersections between the railway and minor (usually private) roads.  At all such crossings the road user is required to operate gates or barriers when crossing the railway.

No lights or audible alarms were provided at the crossing to warn of the approach of trains.  However, the crossing was provided with telephones to enable the drivers of vehicles to call the signaller to confirm if it was safe to cross.

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigations by the British Transport Police and the safety authority (the Office of Rail Regulation).

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

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Driver of tanker in Suffolk train crash pleads guilty

The driver of a tanker involved in a crash with a train in Suffolk has admitted endangering safety on the railway.

The first of the train's two carriages was derailed, injuring 22 people, at an unmanned level crossing near Sudbury on 17 August.

Arvydas Bartasius, 38, of Hawthorn Close, Ely, Cambridgeshire, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court.

Bartasius will return to the court for sentencing on 26 November.

The 1731 BST National Express East Anglia service was thought to be travelling between 50mph and 60mph as it made its way from Sudbury in Suffolk to Marks Tey in Essex when it was in collision with the tanker.

[Electric train]

My guess he gets a suspended sentence and or fine, he is unlikely to loose his license as the incident was not on a public highway

[TheLastMinute]

It seems that, quite rightly, the courts have come down quite hard on the lorry driver as he's been jailed for 15 months, even after he plead guilt.

Suffolk train crash tanker driver jailed

The driver of a sewage tanker which collided with a train in Suffolk has been jailed for 15 months.

Arvydas Bartasius, 38, of Hawthorn Close, Ely, Cambridgeshire, admitted endangering safety on the railway.

Ipswich Crown Court heard two train carriages were derailed and 21 people injured in the incident near Sudbury.

Bartasius's tanker collided with a National Express East Anglia train from Sudbury to Marks Tey, in Essex, at an unmanned level crossing on 17 August.

Bartasius was also disqualified from driving for three years.

The court heard that Bartasius drove on to a level crossing and a passenger train travelling at an estimated 50mph hit his tanker.

TLM

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has released its report into a collision between an articulated tanker and a passenger train at Sewage Works Lane user worked crossing near Sudbury, Suffolk on 17 August 2010. The RAIB has made six recommendations.

The full report is available on the RAIB website.

[inspector_blakey]

Looks like that RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) has made a response of sorts to the criticism they've received in the past about the length of time it takes them to publish reports... They're getting exceedingly good at publishing them just a few days before the nominal one-year deadline 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Ah: you spotted that, too? 

[inspector_blakey]

Actually it looks from the stats at Death by Health and Safety, who keep tabs on this sort of thing, that RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)'s 'moving annual average' (to borrow a term from the Passengers' Charter) has been just below the regulatory time limit for much of this year.

Maybe I'm being a little too cynical...

[ChrisB]

Maybe they've had budget cuts too, and are now working with fewer staff?