RAIB investigate passenger train incident - Stonegate, East Sussex - 8/11/2010

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Investigation into an incident involving a passenger train near Stonegate, East Sussex on 8 November 2010

The RAIB is carrying out an investigation into a serious incident involving a passenger train that occurred on the Tonbridge to Hastings line in Sussex.

At around 08:10 hrs on Monday 8 November 2010 the 06:45 hrs train from London Charing Cross to Hastings encountered poor adhesion conditions as its driver applied the brakes to make the scheduled stop at Stonegate station, while travelling at about 65 mph. The train was unable to stop at Stonegate, and came to a stand some 2.45 miles (4 km) beyond the station.

No signals were passed at danger during the incident and a level crossing encountered by the train during the incident operated normally.

The train driver contacted the signaller by radio to report the situation.

The investigation will identify the reasons for the train^s inability to stop normally, and examine the arrangements for the servicing and maintenance of the rail head sanding equipment on the trains used on the Charing Cross ^ Hastings line, the information provided to the driver, the regime for rail head treatment, and other factors which may have affected the incident.

The RAIB^s investigation is independent of any investigations by the Police and the safety authority.

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.

[IndustryInsider]

Two-and-a-half miles?  Blimey! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Indeed. 

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) (including a video report):

Sussex passenger train slides for two-and-a-half miles

A passenger train overshot its intended station in East Sussex by almost two-and-a-half miles.

The Southeastern London to Hastings train was travelling at 65mph when it encountered "poor adhesion conditions" as it went through Stonegate station.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has begun an inquiry into the incident which took place on 8 November.

The train also went through a level crossing which operated normally.

The RAIB said: "The train encountered poor adhesion conditions as its driver applied the brakes to make the scheduled stop at Stonegate station, while travelling at about 65 mph. The train was unable to stop at Stonegate, and came to a stand some 2.45 miles beyond the station."

The train left Charing Cross station at 0645 GMT and the incident took place at about 0810 GMT.

The RAIB said that no signals had been passed at danger during the incident and the train driver had contacted the signaller by radio to report the situation.

The investigators said they would identify the reasons for the train's inability to stop.

[Trowres]

As a rough estimate, that would indicate an adhesion factor of around 1 percent (compared with about 25 percent for dry rail IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)).

This seems implausibly low, so I await the official report with interest.

[inspector_blakey]

On a bad rail, especially during leaf fall, there can be almost no adhesion at all in certain places. AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) once a train has locked up and slid it can be very difficult to regain adhesion in certain circumstances.

You may find the previous RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) reports on similar low-adhesion incidents here and here informative.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) have now published their full report - available on their website:

Summary

Shortly after 08:00 hrs on Monday 8 November 2010, a passenger train running from London Charing Cross to Hastings failed to stop at Stonegate station in East Sussex.
 
The train ran for a further 2.45 miles (3.94 km) with the emergency brake applied, passing the level crossing at Crowhurst Bridge before coming to a stop 3.22 miles (5.18 km) after first applying the brakes.

No-one was hurt and there was no damage to the train or to the track.  The train completed the journey to Hastings after a short delay.
 
Rail adhesion conditions were poor on that day due to high winds causing fresh leaf fall, and the onset of rain.  The line had been treated to improve adhesion the previous evening.

It is likely that the train failed to stop at Stonegate station because there was almost certainly no sand in the sand hoppers at the leading end.  If sand had been present, the train braking system would have deposited sand onto the rail head, improving the available adhesion and allowing the train to stop in a much shorter distance.

The RAIB has made three recommendations to London & South Eastern Railway Ltd, covering improvements in maintenance processes, restrictions on the use of trains that need servicing, driver awareness of low sand conditions and the responsiveness of the sand replenishment regime.

[EBrown]

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

Southeastern faces court after train overshot station

A rail company is to be prosecuted after a passenger train allegedly overshot a station in East Sussex by almost two-and-a-half miles.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) said it had launched a criminal prosecution against Southeastern.

The firm faces charges under health and safety law.

The London to Hastings train is alleged to have travelled through Stonegate station at 50mph on 8 November 2010 and failed to stop.

No-one was hurt and there was no damage.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) said it failed to stop as there was "almost certainly" no sand in the sandhoppers which help the train brake.

The first hearing has been scheduled for 24 May at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court in Kent

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Rye & Battle Observer:

Southeastern admits two breaches of health and safety

Train operator Southeastern has admitted breaching health and safety regulations following an incident which saw a busy commuter train overshoot a station by two-and-a-half miles.

Southeastern pleaded guilty at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court in Kent to charges under two sections of the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) launched the criminal prosecution against Southeastern following the incident on the London to Hastings line on November 8, 2010.

The 8am train, which passes through Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Battle and Crowhurst, should have stopped at Stonegate station.

But fresh leaf fall and rain had led to poor rail conditions and the driver of the train was unable to reduce the 64mph speed he had reached just before braking on the approach to Stonegate.

He used the emergency brake, with the train going through the station at about 50mph, passing a level crossing at Crowhurst Bridge in Burwash before coming to a stop 2.45 miles from the station.

A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) said the train failed to stop as there was ^almost certainly^ no sand in the sand hoppers which helps the train to brake.

Southeastern had previously said the company was ^disappointed^ with the decision to prosecute and said a thorough investigation in conjunction with Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) had seen a number of changes put in place. The company will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on July 6.