Formal Inquiries

Great Heck summary report and recommendations

Railway Safety confirmed that it has issued its report of the formal inquiry into the Great Heck rail accident to the industry. The accident, which occurred on 28 February 2001 was caused by a Land Rover and trailer leaving the M62 and coming onto the track in the path of an express passenger train bound for London. Following normal practice the formal inquiry was convened to establish if there were any safety lessons for the rail industry, although an interim report issued by HSE on 6 March considered that there was nothing the railway industry could reasonably have done to prevent the collisions.

A panel of independent experts appointed by Railway Safety has examined all aspects of the accident, which tragically resulted in the death of ten people. The purpose of the inquiry was not to apportion blame or liability but identify the immediate and underlying causes for the train derailment and subsequent collision and to make recommendations for preventing such occurrences.

The report concluded there to be no obvious highway related contributory factors leading to the road vehicle leaving the carriageway. It also points out that despite the highway infrastructure complying with the current applicable standards the errant vehicle travelled a considerable distance after leaving the highway.

Sequence of events

The Land Rover road vehicle and trailer combination travelling westbound on the M62 motorway left the carriageway when approaching a bridge over the East Coast Main Line near Great Heck and came to rest foul of the line.

The combination was struck by a London bound passenger train causing the leading vehicle of the train (the DVT) to become derailed. It is understood that the train was running at near to the permissible line speed of 125mph at the time.

The DVT ran derailed for some distance until it was deflected towards the adjacent line by the trailing turnout of the connection from a private freight terminal. Almost immediately, the derailed DVT was involved in a secondary collision with a freight train conveying coal to Eggborough Power Station.

General derailment of both trains ensued, and due to the high speed of the passenger train, its leading vehicles were scattered most suffering serious damage in the process. The locomotive and leading vehicles of the freight train were overturned and came to rest on the side of the track. The severity of the secondary collision led to the death of 10 people and 76 sustained personal injury, many seriously.

Recommendations

The report makes recommendations for future improvements in a number of key areas. The primary ones include:

• the rail industry to establish improved processes and mechanisms with the highways agency and local highway authorities to understand and control road/rail interface risks

• signs to be provided to indicate location and how to contact Railtrack at road overbridges where there is a risk of a road vehicle coming onto the railway

• consideration be given to vehicle detection systems for locations with a risk of road vehicle incursions

• research into the structural performance of railway rolling stock in collisions

• improved data collection for incidents of road vehicle incursions on the railway

• the Railway Group Standard requirements for rolling stock to be reviewed

• a study into the prevention of derailments during collisions

The inquiry panel was assembled by Railway Safety to independently investigate the railway accident. The panel first met together on 5 March 2001 and interviewed 34 witnesses with observers present from industry interested organisations to ensure due process was followed.

Railway Safety has responsibility for ensuring that, when such accidents occur, a thorough independent inquiry takes place and for ensuring that effective learning is obtained. All Railway Group members have a duty to co-operate with the inquiry process, covered by a Railway Group Standard. Although not obliged to by the standard, other parties such as the Highways Agency, cooperated fully with the railway formal inquiry.

The four man inquiry panel comprised experts in rolling stock, track and structures, railway operations and road safety. Collectively the panel can claim over 70 years railway experience and 16 years experience in traffic and road safety investigation.