Kirkby Train Crash.
 

Kirkby Train Crash: No injuries suspected as train “crashes into bridge”.

Merseyrail has said that trains are being started and terminated at Rice Lane after an operational incident.

The train operator has said that the emergency services are in attendance, but no injuries are believed to have been sustained.

Rail replacement bus services are in operation between Kirkby and Rice Lane.

The British Transport Police has said “We were called to Kirkby station at 7.01 pm this evening following reports that a train derailed while travelling into the station. Officers, paramedics and fire services attended – thankfully no one sustained serious injuries.

Full article.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...to-bridge.html


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Thanks for that Philip.

Oh dear! There has been the odd occasion when I've approached the Stops a little bit more 'energetically' than I'd intended. My heart goes out to the driver if this was the case. :(

The ITV news report shows the scene this morning (in daylight, compared to the original report from last night) and also reports as fact that the train did crash through the buffer stops. A lot of damage, but thankfully no significant injuries.

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/202...ificant-damage

Tony

Most terminus platforms have a Permissive Speed of 15mph (or less) on approach. They are also usually protected by a pair of TPWS mini grids, which will apply the Emergency Brake if the train is doing much more than about 10mph over them IIRC.

But once you've passed over the grids there's nothing else to stop you wacking the stops.

Sometimes if the station is on a rising gradient, or you braked a little too hard for the grids, you then have to take power to get to the stops - and then you're in the risk zone.

Statistically speaking, if you repeat the same task 10,000 times, there's a fair chance you'll mess it up once.

Just glad no one was seriously injured.

News update.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...crash.html/amp

Cheers Philip.
I had just seen this and was going to post here, but I have also found another interesting video, showing the crash as it happened (CCTV?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8faDi7pkjY

Tony

Wow, he rattled in at a good old speed! :eek:

Wasn't expecting that.

Today (Monday 22nd March) the first trains return to Kirkby railway station, just a week after an incident involving a Merseyrail unit.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...eid=aa4ee9b801

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Thanks for that Philip.

Interestingly enough, on the same website I saw this....Kirkby Rail Crash: RAIB says ‘train approached station at 42mph’ – investigation launched

Ooo, that's gonna take some explaining. :(

Cheers, John

A 59 year old man from Liverpool has been charged in connection with a train derailment at Kirkby station last year.

More details.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/01...eid=aa4ee9b801


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Hmm. Well if he's being charged that would suggest that he was well outside the 'acceptable mistake' range, and either didn't comply with driving policy, or else did something he shouldn't have.

And telling us that he approached the station at 42 mph is meaningless if we don't know the context.
For example - It was normal to approach the stops at Kings Cross at 125 mph - provided that you complied with the all the reductions in Permissive Speeds before you got there. ;)

Doubtless we'll learn more in time.

Cheers, John

It appears that the driver was using his phone as the train approached the station & he has now been convicted of endangering the safety of the passengers. He will be sentenced at a later date & had already been dismissed by Mersey Rail.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/02...-at-40mph.html

Tony

Thanks Tony.

I've seen several 'situations' in the past caused by drivers using phones, and that was what I'd guessed happened here but didn't want to say before it was in the public domain.

In fact ASLEF warned its members several years ago that it could not defend them if they had an accident or incident whilst using a mobile phone on the move. They even ran a campaign to remind drivers not to use their phones in cabs. There's a picture below showing the little badge which came with the pack

The Operating Company and/or Police are entitled to obtain a driver's mobile phone records following a rail accident, so there's no getting out of it.

And it's right there in the Rulebook (Section 5.2) that you must not use any communication device if it could distract you whilst driving. This includes not answering the signaller on the Cab Radio if they call you at a critical time (which they shouldn't do - but stuff happens).

In fact many Train Operating Companies have a policy that using a personal phone on the move is automatically a dismissible offence (the only one there is AFAIAA).

It's just pure luck that no one was seriously injured or killed.

John

The Mersey Rail driver, Phillip Holis, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 2 years.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/03...sentenced.html

Tony