A train derailment in Essex which led a carriage to be dragged off the rails for 1.5 miles was caused by a ‘kink’ in the track, a report has found.
Sixty-two passengers were on board the Greater Anglia service from Southend to London Liverpool Street when it came off the tracks close to Wickford station in Essex on August 14.
The train remained upright, however, its rear carriage was dragged across sleepers and ballast for about 1.5 miles.
Nobody was injured on the train but the derailment did lead to significant travel chaos with services in the area only resuming on Wednesday.
Now, an initial report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found that the driver reported a ‘kink in the track’ which rocked the driving cab as the train passed over it.
CCTV from the train showed a misalignment in the track at the same location as where the driver reported the kink and at the point of the derailment.
‘The train driver was in the process of reporting the track condition to the signaller when they received an emergency call from another train passing in the opposite direction and applied the train’s brakes,’ the RAIB said.
Sixty-two passengers were on board the Greater Anglia service from Southend to London Liverpool Street when it came off the tracks close to Wickford station in Essex on August 14
Emergency services at the scene of the derailment. Now, an initial report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found that the driver reported a ‘kink in the track’ just before it came off the track
The report added that the train suffered ‘sustained damage and the train passing in the opposite direction received minor damage from flying ballast’.
On top of this, there was ‘significant damage’ to the track, signalling and overhead electrification equipment.
The RAIB said it would carry out a further investigation into the sequence of events leading up to and during the derailment.
It will also examine: the actions of those involved and the factors that may have influenced them, the status of the track at this location and how it was maintained and the effectiveness of any mitigation measures to address the risk of operating trains in hot weather.
They will also consider the performance of the train during the derailment as well as any underlying management factors.
Jamie Burles, GBR Anglia Managing Director, said: ‘We are continuing to support the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) following its announcement to investigate the incident at Wickford.
‘While the line between Wickford and Shenfield has now reopened, we are very sorry for the disruption this incident caused to our passengers and our local community. We remain thankful that no one was injured.
‘Safety is our highest priority. Thankfully incidents like this are extremely rare on Britain’s railways which remain among the safest in the world but, when they do happen, we are determined to fully understand why.
‘We understand the desire for answers, but it is important that the independent investigation is allowed to reach its conclusions. We will continue to cooperate fully with the RAIB throughout this process, and we will consider any recommendations that may be made.’
The train derailment in Wickford came just one day after another train carrying 150 passengers derailed in East Sussex seriously injuring two people.
Disaster struck the eight-carriage train travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne at 3.54pm on August 13, when it was between Haywards Heath and Lewes stations.
Three carriages overturned and passengers were forced to scramble out of the wreckage as temperatures climbed above 35C.
