The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report today into a fatal collision between a Super Voyager train and a car on the line at Copmanthorpe on 25 September 2006.
The full report is available here:
A summary of the key points from the report is included below.
Summary
On Monday 25 September 2006 a Virgin train service from Plymouth to Edinburgh was travelling at approximately 100mph when it struck a car on the site of a former level crossing at Copmanthorpe, south of York. The car driver was fatally injured in the collision. Although three axles of the train derailed, the train remained upright and there were no injuries on board.
The immediate cause of the incident was the car entering onto the railway through a fenced boundary. It has not been possible to establish why the car carried on past the end of the road and onto the railway. A possible contributing factor was the lack of a risk assessment into vehicle incursion on to the railway at that point.
Recommendations
The RAIB has made no recommendations in relation to the cause of the accident. It has made two recommendations aimed at:
- assessing cul-de-sacs adjacent to Network Rail's system; and
- protecting the underside of trains from damage after collisions.
Notes to Editors
1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. The RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2. For media enquiries please call 020 7944 6984.
Newsdate: 5 September 2007
