Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has today published the report of the rail industry inquiry into the accident at Elsenham on 3 December 2005, which claimed the lives of two teenage girls.
The immediate cause of the accident was that, while attempting to cross the line to catch a train on the far platform, the two girls did not react to the red miniature warning light and yodel alarm, which visually and audibly indicated that it was not safe to open the wicket gate and use the station footpath crossing and stepped into the path of a moving train.
The inquiry involved a panel of industry experts, led by an independent chairman. Formal inquiries do not apportion blame or liability but set out an account of the accident, the evidence that has been presented to the panel and makes recommendations to prevent or reduce the risk of similar accidents in future.
Nine recommendations for improvements in a number of key areas are outlined in the report for the industry to consider.
A summary and the full report is available on RSSB’s website on
www.rssb.co.uk/formal_2006r.asp
Ends
For further information please contact the Rail Safety and Standards Board press office, on 020 7904 7524/5
Notes for editors
1. Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) builds industry-wide consensus and facilitates the resolution of difficult cross-industry issues. It provides knowledge, analysis, a substantial level of technical expertise, powerful information and risk management tools. This delivers a unique mix to the industry across a whole range of subject areas
2. RSSB has issued a full copy of the Elsenham formal inquiry report to each member of the Railway Group and the other organisations involved in the accident. Recipients of the report review the findings and recommendations and take actions where appropriate to address identified deficiencies within their own systems.
3. RSSB monitors the Railway Group member’s progress towards implementing the recommendations on a six monthly basis and produces an annual summary report.
