GB Rail Annual Health and Safety Report 2023/24

Key Highlights from this year’s report: 

• Zero passenger and workforce fatalities in train accidents. 
• 19% increase in passenger journeys compared to 2022/23, though still 5% below pre-pandemic levels. 
• Zero workforce fatalities. 
• Three passenger or public fatalities in stations (excluding assaults, trespassers, and level crossing users). 
• Eleven public fatalities at other locations (ten were trespassing at the time of the accident, one was at a level crossing). 
• 274 suicides or suspected suicides. 

While these statistics offer reasons for optimism, for example, the absence of passenger fatalities from train accidents and no workforce fatalities, there are areas requiring attention.  Notably, there have been increases in signals passed at danger, incorrect usage at level crossings, and elevated levels of work-related violence. Although trespass fatalities have decreased, the number of trespass incidents has risen compared to pre-pandemic levels. Changes in social behaviour may be contributing to these trespass and assault issues.

Additionally, extreme weather in 2023/24 has likely led to an increase in earthworks failures. Although these remain below the levels seen in 2019/20.

In response, Network Rail is investing £45 billion in a rail improvement plan, with a strong focus on addressing the effects of climate change. However, climate change is not the only challenge. The industry is also navigating cost pressures and awaiting the transition to a new industry structure.

Change is inevitable. The railway has dealt with it many times before. Through nationalisation, modernisation, electrification, and privatisation, the trains kept running. Keeping them running was vital during the pandemic, and safety and performance go hand in hand. If trains are on time, people and goods get to where they need to be when the timetable says they’ll get there. Punctual passengers are happy passengers, less likely to assault staff—verbally or otherwise. But punctuality is not all about signalling with intelligence, dispatching on time, or driving with skill. It’s about keeping our assets in good order, responding proportionately to risks, and acting quickly and decisively when there’s service disruption. 

RSSB’s Annual Health and Safety Report is one of the industries ways to monitor the safety and health performance of the railway through change. To ensure that it remains a safe and healthy railway.