Recommendations made following train derailment

Five recommendations have been made to Network Rail following the derailment of a train in the Summit tunnel near Littleborough in December 2010.

In the early hours of 28 December 2010 a train travelling from Manchester Airport to York struck a large amount of ice that had fallen onto the tracks from a ventilation shaft in the Summit tunnel, near Littleborough. All wheels of the front bogie of the train derailed to the left causing the front driving cab of the train to strike the tunnel wall. During the immediate aftermath of the derailment there were further falls of ice onto the roof of the train.

A total of 45 passengers and 2 train crew were evacuated from the train and led out of the tunnel by the emergency services. No injuries were reported.

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The investigation carried out by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has found that the ice formed as water, seeping through the lining of a ventilation shaft, froze during a long period of freezing temperatures.

The ice fell onto the track after a thaw which started on 27 December 2010.

The train, which was the first to pass through the tunnel in over three days due to the Christmas holiday period, then collided with it.

The investigation found that a combination of factors led to the accident: 

• the risk of ice, particularly ice falls onto the track, was not identified before the train service resumed so the train was allowed to enter Summit tunnel while running at its maximum permitted speed; and
• the routine maintenance regime did not identify excessive ice in the tunnel and no additional inspections were carried out. 

The RAIB has made five recommendations, all directed to Network Rail.

The first recommendation relates to how water in Summit tunnel is managed.

The second is about identifying those structures which are at risk from extreme weather and then checking they are safe to use after periods when no trains have been running.

The third calls for the potential hazards due to extreme weather and thaw conditions to be taken into account in Network Rail’s weather management processes.

The fourth calls for training and information to be given to staff who need to carry out the additional inspection of structures that are at risk in extreme cold weather.

The fifth relates to the management of safety related information (and details of actions taken) that is passed from Network Rail’s buildings and civils – asset management function to other parts of the company.

A spokesperson for Network Rail was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

To read the full report visit: http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/110929_R162011_Summit_Tunnel.pdf