25.05.17
RAIB calls for safety review after passenger died leaning out of carriage window
Network Rail and operators have been told to improve their safety standards and data sharing after a passenger was killed last year when they stuck their head out of a train carriage.
The incident involved a passenger on the Gatwick Express service from the airport to London Victoria, who died from injuries after striking a signal gantry as they leaned out the window of the train.
It is believed that the window the passenger leant out of was opposite a guard’s compartment and was accessible to passengers, but not for passenger use. It is unknown why the passenger put their head out the window.
In a report released today, the RAIB stated that the accident occurred as there was nothing to prevent passengers from opening the window or putting their head out of the opened window, and also because there was less than the normal standard clearance between the train and the signal gantry.
Though clearance was complaint with standards for existing structures, it was less than an industry recommended minimum for new structures where there are trains with opening passenger windows.
The report stated: “An underlying cause was that the process for assessing the compatibility of this train on this route did not identify the risk of the combination of reduced structure clearances and opening windows.”
The RAIB made a number of recommendations to avoid a similar accident in the future. One was addressed to Network Rail, as the RAIB said: “Network Rail, in collaboration with operators of trains, should introduce a process to implement the sharing of data regarding clearances between structures and trains at window height with train operators, so that operators can make more informed decisions about the management of risk associated with opening windows.”
It was also recommended to TOCs with rolling stock with droplight windows should review the risk arising from reduced clearance. This work, the RAIB added, must be informed by taking data from NR, and should consider ways of stopping people from leaning out of windows and improving signage to warn passengers against doing this.
The report also urged the industry to take on board a key learning point to regularly monitor and manage the structure gauge when clearances are reduced from normal to avoid other incidents.
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