BBC News Not much detail on what happened yet, other than it was a Kings Cross to Kings Lynn EMU, which derailed travelling at about 75mph, There are sadly five reported deaths at present, it's not reported wether they were on the train or at the station. The car wedged across all four platforms and under the station canopies is reported to be the rear car of the four car unit. [ 10 May 2002, 15:22: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
I've been following this story all day, very sad. I used to commute through Potters Bar every day so know where it happens very well, my heart goes out to the families of those hurt and killed.
I heard with dismay of this accident on the radio. This crash is just about 5 miles from the site of the Hatfield crash which prompted a thorough upgrade of all high speed track in the UK rail network. The last of four vehicles derailed, so maybe it was not a track fault this time. Investigations are underway.
Latest now is that two more folk have died in hospital, bringing it to 7 dead, all apparently were passengers in the rear car which appears to have rolled over violently at least once. From the TV pics being shown over here there is very close investigation being made of a facing point where the derailment appears to have started, I know it's too early to speculate, but I can't help getting a gut reaction that the point blades moved under the train, though other likely causes could be a mechanical failure on the track or train, it having hit an obstacle is unlikely, as the driver didn't notice anything unusual and the first two cars passed the derailment site without incident. A correction to my first post is that the train was likely travelling at 100mph at the time (that's the allowed line speed through there and also the allowed speed of that type of MU)
This is Terrible! My sincerest prayers and sympathies to all involved. [ 11 May 2002, 02:07: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
It looks as though Martyn's gut reaction was correct. Some nuts on the facing point had come loose, and the point moved as the train was passing over it, derailing the last car. Hundreds of other similar points have been checked, with no problems found on them. Seems it could have been a freak accident, or, possibly vandalism. The point was visually checked last thursday, and no defects reported.
I am very interested to see what the actuall findings are as I am directly involved with point inspections. On my area we have 525 sets of points and the thought of loose bolts out there is a worry. The issue of inspections is an issue for a start. If a maintenance crew do the same mundane task of just checking the same things that are always ok then they tend to be a little rudementary about it. I find it hard to believe that bolts would come loose over a short period of time. Vandalism is possible but unlikely as to set up a set of points to operate normally yet to open under a train would be very difficult to achieve. The cause may not be the point operating equipment but the bolts that hold the stockrail secure. If the bolts that bolt the stockrails to the railbrace chairs are loose and the points are out of gauge there may be a possibility for the stock rail to move under load and allowong the train to split the stockrail and switch. Of course we are only speculating here until the offical cause is known . My sincere condolences go to the familes of those who lost relatives. It does amaze me though that 100's of people can perish in an airliner (2 planes crashed this week alone) Yet far more nagativity arises from a train crash. I still honestly believe train travel is on of the most safest modes of transport.
Paul, I agree with your observation concerning air travel versus rail travel. I have to assume that most persons expect an airplane to crash, whereas a train is supposed to be VERY safe. (That's what our parents told us) Therefore when a passenger train augers in, all Hell breaks loose in the Press. Please understand that I am speaking about human emotions here, which have nothing to do with rational thought processes, especially where the Press and TV Media are concerned. Regards your thoughts on periodic over the road inspections ... a High-Rail inspection is conducted at least weekly on the 50 MPH main (60 MPH Passenger) that passes my house. Unfortunately it is conducted from the cab of a Ford F-250 pickup traveling at approximately 50 MPH. Like you say ... when the inspectors expect nothing, they see nothing. The walking inspection by Gandy Dancers 50 years ago caught many, many conditions before they became problems. Another concern that I have in this regard ... last month a Sperry car came through and marked two weld joints that have had progressively worsening horizontal flaking fractures for at least six years (and have been marked by SRS cars with each yearly pass). Unfortunately for this year, the SRS crew had allowed the spray marking mechanism to run out of pigment. Consequently, both flaws were marked, but became invisible after about an hour when the oil vehicle that carries the pigment evaporated. I commend you and your crews for their obvious attention to detail and high morale. Unfortunately there are a number of companies throughout the World where morale has become very low for a number of reasons. As a result the enthusiasm and attention to detail by the Rank & File is at an extremely low ebb. Both of my above observations can be attributed in good part to employee morale. [ 12 May 2002, 00:56: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
Latest BBC news It all looks a little odd this, why would two sets of locking nuts on the stretcher bars repeatedly work themselves loose, what's so special about that particular point? This is rather a "high stress" location being a facing point at the end of a curve on a (relatively) high speed running line, but there must be plenty of other locations in the UK with similar characteristics? If it's vandalism, then it's by someone who knew exactly what they were doing and had the tools and railway knowledge to make it happen, which makes it somewhat unlikely to be vandalism...
Janes World Railways The best online coverage of the incident so far. This is the non-subscription version.
