Probe into rail near miss in snow

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An investigation is being carried out into a near miss involving a freight train and two passenger trains at Carstairs in South Lanarkshire.

It happened during heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures on 22 December.

The freight service from Coatbridge to Tilbury docks in Essex passed through two red signals and narrowly avoided colliding with two passenger trains.

The Rail Accident Investigation Brach (RAIB) has carried out an initial review.

It said: "Evidence suggests that the braking performance of the (freight) train was below that expected of a train of its type."

The RAIB also identified no evidence that the operation or condition of the railway signalling system contributed to the incident.

The near miss occurred at about 2020 GMT.

Derailment potential

The freight train passed through Carstairs station and came to a halt about two miles after it had started to brake.

As it approached Carstairs a passenger service from London Kings Cross to Glasgow Central was being routed across the same line at the south end of the station.

The RAIB said it passed clear of the junction less than two minutes before the arrival of the freight train.

It also said that actions by a signaller averted the potential for a derailment or collision between the freight train and a second passenger train approaching Carstairs from the direction of Edinburgh.

Accident investigators will publish a full report and recommendations to improve safety when their investigation is complete.