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Th 21/10/21 IET hits PW Trolley left on line near Challow

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Amlag

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The first Down train (0523 Paddington - Swansea IET ) between Didcot and Swindon on Th 21/10/21 following an Engineers possession being given up, hit a PW trolley near Challow which seems to have been left on the line.

Very luckily a potentially very serious incident was avoided because the trolley was deflected off the track by the leading vehicle of this train, which eventually passed Uffington at 08/54,163 mins late and was terminated at Swindon.

There were as a result extensive delays and disruption to following services.
 
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Melancholia

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Not the first time this has happened in the recent years... I would've though more procedures would be in place to prevent such incidents further.
 

ainsworth74

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Not the first time this has happened in the recent years... I would've though more procedures would be in place to prevent such incidents further.
50p says that procedures are in place they just weren't followed....
 

Melancholia

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50p says that procedures are in place they just weren't followed....
I'd be very surprised if there aren't any

Hopefully there will be consequences for the people responsible, and lessons learned. Could've been much, much worse...

On a side note, this is my usual train after a night shift back home. Luckily I wasn't working nights this week, as I'd be quite upset to be stuck in the middle of nowhere for over 3 hours after nights :smile:
 

Nicholas Lewis

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Is that an assumption or actually based on knowledge?
There are clear rule book procedures for use of trolleys

GE/RT8000/HB10 - Duties of the COSS or SWL and person in charge when using a hand trolley

The COSS or SWL has clear responsibility for ensuring the line is clear before handing back a worksite to an ES or the Signaller if it was placed under a line block. A trolley needs two people in attendance so more than one person knew it had been used.

Be surprised if RAIB investigate it as they will just cite other instances where rule book has not been followed so nothing new to learn. NR will do a local investigation maybe a formal given the potential but won't be made public.
 

High Dyke

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There are clear rule book procedures for use of trolleys

GE/RT8000/HB10 - Duties of the COSS or SWL and person in charge when using a hand trolley

The COSS or SWL has clear responsibility for ensuring the line is clear before handing back a worksite to an ES or the Signaller if it was placed under a line block. A trolley needs two people in attendance so more than one person knew it had been used.

Be surprised if RAIB investigate it as they will just cite other instances where rule book has not been followed so nothing new to learn. NR will do a local investigation maybe a formal given the potential but won't be made public.
Exactly, which the person I responded to may or may not realise.
 

Clarence Yard

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Be surprised if RAIB investigate it as they will just cite other instances where rule book has not been followed so nothing new to learn. NR will do a local investigation maybe a formal given the potential but won't be made public.

A NR colleague of mine (who is in a position to know) says the RAIB are investigating it. It was a serious incident involving a passenger train with potentially catastrophic consequences so I am not surprised they are.
 

Horizon22

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Caused disruption for most of the (alongside flooding between Exeter and Tiverton Parkway) with all the displacement. The affected train was on site for approximately 2-3 hours with a number of railway staff on board (one of the first trains to Western Control at Swindon for an early shift). RAIB investigation I believe would likely just lead to a safety digest
 

Nicholas Lewis

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A NR colleague of mine (who is in a position to know) says the RAIB are investigating it. It was a serious incident involving a passenger train with potentially catastrophic consequences so I am not surprised they are.
My moneys on a safety digest although I don't have the detail it reads like a failure to comply with process not a failure of the process itself so RAIB won't do a full investigation although I actually always hope they do as you at least get the detail. What RAIB ought to do is launch a wider class investigation into the constant level of issues still happening within possessions. Also ORR feel very hands off these days in ensuring NR are delivering on recommendations made by RAIB.
 

Melancholia

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Is that an assumption or actually based on knowledge?

Assumption, due to myself also working on the railway, in a different engineering environment, so I'm fully aware of the amount of safety policies and procedures that exist, therefore I'd be very surprised if there isn't any for on-track engineering.
 

Nicholas Lewis

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Assumption, due to myself also working on the railway, in a different engineering environment, so I'm fully aware of the amount of safety policies and procedures that exist, therefore I'd be very surprised if there isn't any for on-track engineering.
All work on the track is governed by a variety of rule book handbooks along with oodles of NR procedures about planning and briefing such work before its undertaken.
 

Horizon22

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All work on the track is governed by a variety of rule book handbooks along with oodles of NR procedures about planning and briefing such work before its undertaken.

Yes, but the vast majority of recent serious railway incidents and RAIB reports recently have been regarding P-way / engineering staff failing to adhere to procedures / poor paperwork & planning / incorrect identification of work activities and sites.
 

Romsey

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The incident happened in an axle counter detected area. Part of the procedure for lifting a possession is a process called "line clear verification" which should take account for the lack of track circuit detection. The equipment used in each worksite is reported to be clear of the line by each worksite supervisor who report back to the PICOP. If anything is missing, the line should be manually checked.
Beyond that I think we should let the RAIB rake through the evidence.
 

GC class B1

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How can something be too light to activate a track circuit, isn't it a simple electric current? Track circuit operating clips are just a bit of metal, after all.
Light vehicles may not make sufficient electrical contact for the low voltage track circuits. Track circuit clips make a point contact and will breakthrough contamination. Lightweight multiple units have track circuit actuators to ensure they operate track circuits reliably.
 

Josie

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Light vehicles may not make sufficient electrical contact for the low voltage track circuits. Track circuit clips make a point contact and will breakthrough contamination. Lightweight multiple units have track circuit actuators to ensure they operate track circuits reliably.
Well there's my learning point for today, thank you!
 

pompeyfan

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Happened about 4 weeks ago on the Wessex area. Sad to see it’s happened again so soon.
 

Horizon22

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My interest is around whether the trolly was actually on the track or foul of the track, i.e. not stored in a safe place. I'll wait for the RAIB report.

That’s my thinking. Not smack bang in the middle of the track but slightly foul of the running lines. At the time of day of 1C00, it probably wouldn’t have been at all visible.
 

alf

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If people had been killed the public would be calling for blood.
It would be the lead story in the media for days.

It is obviously too early yet to judge, but if someone has done their safety critical job negligently then it is beyond an internal matter.

The law should be invoked. Not for vengeance, but to remind everyone else how very serious this is....if the safety rules have been broken. (there may be another explanation.)
 

voyagerdude220

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If people had been killed the public would be calling for blood.
It would be the lead story in the media for days.

It is obviously too early yet to judge, but if someone has done their safety critical job negligently then it is beyond an internal matter.

The law should be invoked. Not for vengeance, but to remind everyone else how very serious this is....if the safety rules have been broken. (there may be another explanation.)

It reminds me of the very near miss at Eccles earlier this year, which the RAIB released a report on:

 

Peter Mugridge

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Do we know the extent of damage to the IET? That will be two out of traffic due to incidents across the Western this week if so.
Two? I'm only aware of one... just to be clear, are we talking about the incident involving 800 301 in this thread, or was that something separate?
 
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