Two trains crash near Salisbury.
 

Breaking news.

A number of passengers have been injured in a crash between two trains near Salisbury.

The collision happened near London Road with police, the fire service, paramedics and British Transport Police at the scene.

About 12 people are thought to have been injured and one of the drivers is believed to be trapped in their cab.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue declared the crash a "major incident" and 50 firefighters are in attendance.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59114569


*

An update this morning - 17 people were injured, with some needing hospital treatment, but there are no serious injuries reported.
And a few more details emerging - the rear coach of the GWR train derailed at after reportedly hitting an object, shortly before entering Fisherton Tunnel. This apparently damaged signalling equipment and shortly afterwards, the SWR train ran into the back of the derailed GWR train.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-59116800

Tony

Two video news reports on the incident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w9S...ist=WL&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It47...ist=WL&index=2


*

Earlier today I wrote a reply about how it was odd that GSMR didn't prevent a collision, like it was designed to do. But I didn't post it because I didn't want to slur the driver.

However it's now been mentioned by BTP...
A somewhat inaccurate description. It's much better than that.

The GSMR radios that are fitted in cabs have a Big Red emergency button. If this is pressed, all trains in the same signalling area receive an Emergency Stop Message. This causes an alarm tone to sound and written message to appear on the screen of the GSMR radio. If anyone receives this, they must immediately stop their train as quickly as possible (ie, wack the Emergency Brake on their train).

It worth noting that this is a radio system. Whilst signal cabling and equipment boxes are located close to the the running lines, making them vulnerable to physical damage - GSMR masts are located some distance from the track.

The big question is....why didn't the first driver whack the Big Red Button?

They may not have been able to, of course.

And as ever, we'll find out in the fullness of time.

Cheers, John

Sadly, the drivers injuries are more serious than at first thought.

"Supt Garrett said of the 92 passengers on board the two trains, 30 people attended a casualty centre set up in a nearby church, with the majority "walking wounded".

Two people, along with the driver, remain in hospital.

Supt Garrett said: "Unfortunately the driver of the train was more seriously injured and his injuries are believed to be life-changing."

"We have now moved out of the rescue phase of the operation and into the investigation, which will involve the trains remaining in situ for some time."

*

Oh dear.:eek:

"A senior Network Rail engineer with more than 10 years' experience and who had seen information about the crash said only a 'major' signalling error could have caused the crash.

Speaking to Mail Online on condition of anonymity, they claimed that when the GWR train collided with an object and derailed, there should be an 'automatic obstruction warning' to stop any train entering that same mile-long stretch.

'There has been a major flaw within the signalling system within Network Rail. The system says that the line is not safe for the passage of another train because there is an obstruction on the line,' they said, adding: 'According to my system, the signalling system was aware seven minutes before impact. It should've automatically stopped the train. It should've automatically set all signals to red. If the driver didn't see the signal, the system should've made the train stop.' The whistleblower added: 'I've realised for a number of years there has been numerous failures within [Network Rail]' and said they had feared an incident like this would happen 'for the past two years'."


*

I don't have your knowledge & experience John, but I thought that if the original report was accurate and the derailed first train had damaged the signalling equipment, that this would automatically set all surrounding signals to red.
However, different reports now suggest some slightly different circumstances - namely that the first reports stated that the GWR (first) train had derailed after hitting an object on the track but initial investigations have not found any evidence of that. Also, the initial reports stated that there was around 7 minutes between the derailment of the first train and the second (SWR) train running into the back of the first, but it now seems that the gap might have been much shorter than that - possibly not giving the first driver time to press the emergency button before the collision.
I feel particularly sorry for the SWR driver who has reportedly suffered life changing injuries.

Tony

And now it's even more confusing...

This BBC report states that the BTP have confirmed that "both trains were moving when the collision happened".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-59116800

Tony

Thanks Tony.

I see what you mean.

The link you've given us says this...
If the above is correct, that certainly answers my question.

Cheers, John.

G'day,
The track diagram plus photos of this incident kinda gives the game away.
HMMMM.
Mention of the GSMR radio emergency broadcast system reminds me of the Bad Aibling prang in Bavaria.
Two emergency frequencies being utilized by the DB system.
Der Fahrdienstleiter reputedly hitting the wrong frequency button for that area.
Sadly, we will never know what the German train crews were aware of as both were killed in the incident.
By contrast our recent prang on the South Coast at Kembla Grange below Wollongong might look bad.
The front car of a four car Tangarbage emu gone bush and laying on it's side.
But, being a predawn service, thankfully only four injuries sustained.
It boggles the brain that any IDIOT would leave a vehicle parked on a level crossing.
Engaged in break and enter plus theft, the culprit who fled the scene has been subsequently apprehended.
One wonders, had the emu been of a different variety, would it have survived the prang any better.
Our Tangarbages having a lighter weight driving trailer each end of the pair of central motor cars.
I am guessing that our ATSB mob will await the outcome of the criminal trial before publishing a prang report.
I have not ridden a train in the past 17 months, and have no intention of doing so in the near future.
Forced to wear a mask for the four hour trek to smog hollow, definitely not an enticing prospect.
But, I have always avoided the front car, when possible.
It was occasionally scary enough when being paid to sit up the front.
Steve.

The following statement was given this afternoon by Andrew Hall, Deputy Chief Inspector, Rail Accident Investigation Branch.


"A team of RAIB inspectors arrived on site on Sunday evening and were joined yesterday by additional inspectors and our support team. We are working alongside partner organisations including the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and BTP. Our investigation is progressing well.
"Yesterday our focus was on evidence retrieval, we have been working with Police scene officers to examine the train. We have also undertaken a close examination of the track and signalling in the area and started to talk to those involved. Analysis of downloads from the trains’ data recorders, electronic data from the signalling system and CCTV imagery is ongoing.
"From the initial evidence we have collected, we know that that the passage of the Great Western train travelling from Eastleigh across Salisbury Tunnel Junction was being protected by a red signal. At this junction, trains coming from Eastleigh merge with those from Basingstoke, so the South Western service coming from Basingstoke was required to stop at that signal.
"Unfortunately, it did not stop and struck the side of the Great Western train at an angle such that both trains derailed and ran alongside each other into the tunnel just beyond the junction.
"Initial evidence indicates that the South Western train driver applied the brakes as it approached the junction and the red signal, but the train was unable to stop before passing the signal.
"This evidence suggests that the most likely cause of this was wheelslide, almost certainly a result of low adhesion between the wheels and the track. We are continuing to pursue this as a line of investigation amongst others.
"In consultation with other parties, we continue to work with the railway recovery engineers to ensure that the site is handed back in the shortest time possible. We intend to begin releasing parts of the site back to Network Rail later today.
"Later this week we’ll be releasing the initial findings of the investigation, these will be publicly available on our website."


*

RAIB initial report on Gov web site.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/c...nt=immediately



*

Work has started to remove the two trains from the crash site.

Seemingly they tried a class 59 (59003) to pull coaches out.

There are supposed to be some videos about the recovery but I've not seen any yet.

Some photos of recovery by crane here: https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-h...ouple-of-days/


Tony

Thanks for the link Philip, the clear diagram and explanation put everything into perspective.

Indeed it does.:)

Here is a video of 59003 straining to pull carriages out, but to no avail.

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


*

Wow, that's a very brute force way of doing it! :eek:

I'm sure they have their reasons, but you'd have thought that putting the carriage upright with airbags and 'pack & stack' would have been a start.

Hmmm.

G'day,
Brunel would have had the solution.
After all, isn't he reputed to have said; My Engines bigger than yours, GET OUT of my way.
I was watching a DVD last nite featuring the Severn Tunnel prang in 1991.
That also proved to be a challenge to resolve.
Steve.

Services affected by the Salisbury train crash are set to fully resume on Tuesday, Network Rail has said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-59261419


*

Colas gets Salisbury back on tracks.

Colas Rail UK, the specialist rail infrastructure support and freight operators, have released pictures of their successful efforts to re-rail damaged passenger units involved in the recent accident at Salisbury in the South West of England. The operations involved a heavy-duty rail borne crane deployment and working in complex and confined circumstances.

Full article.

https://www.railfreight.com/railfrei...week%202021-48

*

That is a tragedy. The most frightening thing is that there is no way the train can avoid the accident because otherwise, it would go off the tracks. Even though I realize that the train is much more dangerous than the airplane, I always choose this mode of transportation when I travel. I believe that there is nothing more comfortable than the train. My last trip was to Germany, and there I saw a railway system as developed as I'd never seen in any other country. I booked my tickets in advance at dbfahrplan.com. As much as I am afraid of trains, humanity has not yet invented anything better.