A passenger train derailed in Surrey due to leftover rail from maintenance. Thankfully, no one was injured.
It happened early on March 4th. The train was going super fast, like 85 mph, headed toward Walton-on-Thames station. The derailment was due to some leftover rail.
A team working there left a rail section behind from some work they did the prior weekend. The train hit it, causing the front to jump off the tracks. It went on for about 500 meters before stopping.
Passengers got off safely, which matters most. The train company warned people not to travel, and trains faced serious delays for almost a whole week.
The report blamed inadequate post-work checks as teams didn’t see the hazardous rail section. Work wasn’t properly supervised, the report said, and engineers weren’t briefed well, either.
The report mentioned railway rules caused issues, stating current rules don’t define roles clearly enough according to investigators. Complex sites need better role definitions.
Authorities said these accidents cause damage and lead to the closure of affected railways. Infrastructure and trains get damaged easily.
The investigator said that working at night is hard and can make it tough to ensure safety. Good site lighting is very important for night work.
The report emphasized the need for good lighting, which railway maintenance teams need always at night, saying clearly risks were not well managed on that day.
Two recommendations came from the investigation. First, Colas Rail needs to review their material collection methods, especially for work near rail lines.
The other recommendation involved Network Rail and certain boards. They should review rules for complex railway work sites, focusing on work coordination and track safety confirmations.