17.07.15
Lookout failure led to track workers’ 100mph train near-miss
Nine track workers repairing a section of the West Coast Main Line were just seconds away from being hit by a passenger train approaching at almost 100mph because a lookout did not give a warning, an investigation has revealed.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s (RAIB’s) report into the incident on 22 September 2014 revealed that a previous recommendation intended to mitigate this type of risk had not been implemented due to “administrative errors”.
The work site, just south of Hest Bank level crossing near Lancaster, was on a bend that restricted visibility of approaching trains.
RAIB stated that: “Warning of approaching trains was intended to be given by lookouts, located remotely with good visibility of the track, using a radio-based lookout operated warning system (LOWS).”
Prior to the incident, the LOWS system had been working but the workgroup did not receive a warning about the oncoming train.
It was only because the track workers saw the approaching train, with just enough time to clear the track, that an accident was avoided before the train passed them while travelling at 98mph.
No-one was injured, but the workers were shaken by the incident.
“The incident was caused because a lookout did not give a warning, either because he operated the wrong switch on his radio transmitter by mistake, or because he forgot about the need to send a warning during an intended delay period between seeing the train and operating the warning switches,” said RAIB.
“This delay was because he was positioned on a long section of straight track and could see approaching trains for significantly longer than the time required for the workgroup to move into a position of safety.”
The Hest Bank incident could potentially have been avoided if a recommendation made by the RAIB in 2011 following an investigation into an accident at Cheshunt Junction was followed, relating to managing extended warning times due to extended sighting distances.
In the latest report, RAIB has recommended that Network Rail should reassess the working time limits and duration of breaks for lookouts and provide staff with updated instructions and guidance.
Additionally, the rail infrastructure owners should reassess the safe system of work hierarchy, taking account of evidence from LOWS-related incidents and the risk associated with using unassisted (flag) lookouts.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Our railway is the safest in Europe but we are not complacent and are always looking at ways to improve safety for the benefit of those who work on the railway and those who travel on it. We have received RAIB’s recommendations regarding the incident at Hest Bank and are preparing action plans to implement them as quickly as possible to help prevent similar incidents in the future.”
(Image: c. FTPE)
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