Investigations into the management of earthworks by Network Rail

The RAIB has initiated an investigation into the Network Rail’s management of earthworks following a series of derailments caused by slips in cuttings..

There were four derailments of passenger trains running into cutting slips at high speed in the winters of 2005/6 and 2006/7

The derailments in the winter of 2005/6 were at Oubeck on 4 November 2005 and at Moy on 26 November 2005. The RAIB reports into these derailments can be found by clicking here for Oubeck and here for Moy.

The derailments in the winter of 2006 / 7 were at Merstham on 13 January 2007 and at Kemble on 15 January 2007. The RAIB reports into the derailments at Merstham can be found by clicking here, whilst that for Kemble is still subject to the RAIB’s investigation.

The RAIB’s investigation will focus on Network Rails standards and processes for recording and assessing the state of its cuttings, and will build on the specific knowledge that the RAIB has developed in investigating the four derailments.

The RAIB's investigation is proceeding independently of any parallel investigations by the safety authority.

The RAIB will publish its reports, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation.  These reports will be available on the RAIB website.

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