Fatal rail accident narrowly avoided

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has started its investigation into a runaway railway track trolley and its subsequent collision with work site equipment at North Rode

The incident occurred on Sunday, 26 May 2024, when the track trolley ran away towards a team of track workers at the work site.

The location was on a descending gradient, and the trolley only came to a stop after it had collided with equipment being used to move rails within the site.

Fortunately, the track workers had noticed that the runaway trolley was approaching them and moved out of its path before the collision occurred.

None of the track workers was injured in the collision, but the trolley was substantially damaged and also caused damage to the rail-moving equipment that it collided with.

The trolley was being used to transport work equipment at the time of the accident. For some undetermined reason, the trolley’s brakes became ineffective, and with it being on a falling gradient, it rolled away from the team who were using it.

The collision between the trolley and the rail-moving equipment occurred after the trolley had travelled uncontrolled for approximately 1,000 metres.

The investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the incident. It particular, it will also consider:

• The design and maintenance history of the trolley.
• The actions of the workers involved incident, and whether there was anything that may have influenced their actions.
• The arrangements in place to manage and control the risks around the use of track trolleys.
• Whether there were any underlying management factors.

The investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch will be independent of any investigation by the railway industry, or by the industry’s regulator, the Office if Rail and Road (ORR).

After the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has completed its investigation, it will publish its findings, including any recommendations to improve safety.