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Kent train derailment: cow sighting response insufficient, says report Kent train derailment: cow sighting response insufficient, says report Kent train derailment: cow sighting response insufficient, says report
(about 2 hours later)
A train derailed last year after hitting several cows despite signallers having been made aware an hour before the incident that a cow had breached a railway fence, accident investigators have found.A train derailed last year after hitting several cows despite signallers having been made aware an hour before the incident that a cow had breached a railway fence, accident investigators have found.
The incident near Ashford, Kent, on 26 July 2015, occurred after an “insufficient” response to the original sighting, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).The incident near Ashford, Kent, on 26 July 2015, occurred after an “insufficient” response to the original sighting, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
It has recommended that Network Rail (NR), which manages Britain’s railway infrastructure, should provide clarification to signallers on how to deal with alerts of large animals close to the tracks. This includes how long to continue warning train drivers and when they should be sure the line is clear.It has recommended that Network Rail (NR), which manages Britain’s railway infrastructure, should provide clarification to signallers on how to deal with alerts of large animals close to the tracks. This includes how long to continue warning train drivers and when they should be sure the line is clear.
There were 67 passengers and three members of staff travelling on the Southeastern train from London Charing Cross to Ramsgate when it hit eight cows at 69mph in Godmersham at about 9.40pm. Nobody on board was injured.There were 67 passengers and three members of staff travelling on the Southeastern train from London Charing Cross to Ramsgate when it hit eight cows at 69mph in Godmersham at about 9.40pm. Nobody on board was injured.
The RAIB said a train driver reported seeing a cow near the area at about 8.40pm. The signaller instructed the next service to proceed with caution and attempt to pinpoint the animal’s location.The RAIB said a train driver reported seeing a cow near the area at about 8.40pm. The signaller instructed the next service to proceed with caution and attempt to pinpoint the animal’s location.
After the second driver reported that he did not see any cows, the signaller “took this as his assurance that the line was clear” and did not warn any further trains, according to the RAIB.After the second driver reported that he did not see any cows, the signaller “took this as his assurance that the line was clear” and did not warn any further trains, according to the RAIB.
The investigation noted that the signaller was “mindful of delaying trains” and had received a number of similar reports in the past, which had turned out to be false alarms, because the animals were next to the fence but not on the wrong side of it.The investigation noted that the signaller was “mindful of delaying trains” and had received a number of similar reports in the past, which had turned out to be false alarms, because the animals were next to the fence but not on the wrong side of it.
NR staff on the ground also investigated the sighting. They found that the absence of an obstacle deflector at the front of the train made the derailment more likely.NR staff on the ground also investigated the sighting. They found that the absence of an obstacle deflector at the front of the train made the derailment more likely.
The report described how the train’s radio stopped working during the incident, forcing the driver to run for about three-quarters of a mile to an oncoming train that had been stopped by the signaller, to use its radio to report what had happened.The report described how the train’s radio stopped working during the incident, forcing the driver to run for about three-quarters of a mile to an oncoming train that had been stopped by the signaller, to use its radio to report what had happened.
The RAIB recommended that NR should modify its process for inspecting fences to include guidance on considering whether their design is appropriate in relation to the use of adjacent land.The RAIB recommended that NR should modify its process for inspecting fences to include guidance on considering whether their design is appropriate in relation to the use of adjacent land.
It called for Southeastern, which operates services in Kent, south London and East Sussex, to retrofit obstacle deflectors to its Electrostar trains, which are equipped with appropriate mountings, and for the rail industry to consider whether this process should be widened.It called for Southeastern, which operates services in Kent, south London and East Sussex, to retrofit obstacle deflectors to its Electrostar trains, which are equipped with appropriate mountings, and for the rail industry to consider whether this process should be widened.
The report also recommended that drivers have access to an emergency communication system in the event of an accident that affects on-board radio.The report also recommended that drivers have access to an emergency communication system in the event of an accident that affects on-board radio.
RAIB’s chief inspector of rail accidents, Simon French, said: “Train derailments are potentially dangerous and travelling at 69mph, it was lucky that no passengers were injured in this accident.RAIB’s chief inspector of rail accidents, Simon French, said: “Train derailments are potentially dangerous and travelling at 69mph, it was lucky that no passengers were injured in this accident.
“Following our detailed independent investigation, we have made recommendations on fence inspections, the fitment of obstacle deflectors to trains, the response to large animals on railway property and the reliability of train radios. The purpose of our recommendations is to prevent future similar accidents.”“Following our detailed independent investigation, we have made recommendations on fence inspections, the fitment of obstacle deflectors to trains, the response to large animals on railway property and the reliability of train radios. The purpose of our recommendations is to prevent future similar accidents.”