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Tuesday 4 Sep 2007

GRAYRIGG DERAILMENT - INDUSTRY REPORT RELEASED (NW)

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The rail industry report into the tragic accident that happened at Grayrigg, Cumbria on 23 February 2007 is released today. The report explores fully the events that led up to the accident, how the derailment happened, what caused the accident and other underlying factors. It also makes a series of recommendations and actions that will help to prevent such a tragedy in the future. Iain Coucher, Chief Executive, Network Rail, said: "Shortly after the tragedy at Grayrigg, we accepted responsibility for the derailment and apologised to everyone affected. I renew that apology today. "We are publishing this report so that the railway industry and the wider public can understand the causes of the derailment. "The report makes for difficult and sobering reading. Mistakes were made and there are important lessons for all of us at Network Rail. We have already made changes and more change will follow as we put in place all the actions and recommendations put forward by this report.” The report concludes, as has previously been identified, that the immediate cause was a fault with a set of points. In summary it says: 'The failure of the stretcher bar system of the Lambrigg (2B facing) points resulted in one of the rails which switches a train from track to track, becoming detached and moving across into the path of the approaching 17:15 Glasgow service. The rear set of wheels of the first carriage and the front set of wheels of the second carriage of the train struck the tip of the now loose rail, derailed, and led the other carriages into derailment.' The report goes into more detail and looks into the underlying causes describing the full circumstances that led to the derailment. The report makes 14 recommendations with 19 further specific action plans to reduce the chance of a repetition. Network Rail has accepted the report's recommendations and is making changes and improvements. The company hasn't been standing still since the accident but has been working to put these changes into action. The majority of the recommendations are underway and most of the action plans have been completed. In addition Network Rail has also been making further inspections and changes. These include: · Checks made on over 1,437 sets of points nationwide with nothing out of the ordinary found · More detailed checks of 120 fixed stretcher bar points with similar characteristics to the Lambrigg points. Some minor adjustments were carried out, but no conditions similar to Lambrigg were found · All the 120 points, similar to Lambrigg, are having all of their stretcher bars replaced with new ones, using a new nut and bolt assembly (completion by the end of October) · Computer modelling software has been developed that is looking at the loads and stresses experience by stretcher bars - Data for the modelling is being gathered from special ‘smart’ stretcher bars installed at various locations and able to measure these stresses · Inspection, audit and assurance improvements are being made including: - Specialist ‘points squads’ are being created within the maintenance function. These teams will… - - Only look after points - - Bring together all engineering disciplines – track, signalling and plant - Substantial re-briefing of the relevant standards concerning the inspection care and upkeep of points has been done - Retraining has been undertaken where necessary - Patroller forums have been created so patrollers have more formal, structured briefing sessions Mr Coucher concluded: "As Chief Executive, I am determined that all of us at Network Rail learn the lessons of what happened at Grayrigg. I am personally committed to driving through any necessary changes. Travelling by train is the safest form of transport – what we must do now is make it safer still."