Derailment 'caused by train axle' (BBC News)

[RF News]

The derailment of an East Midlands train in Leicestershire is likely to have been caused by a faulty axle, according to investigators.

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[John H-T]

This quote from EMT to a local MP is far more informative!

I have no hesitation in posting it as I picked it up elsewhere on the net:

Quote:

With regards to Saturday's incident, an axle broke on the centre vehicle in the train. This is an extremely unusual type of event (it is thought that an axle has not failed on a passenger train for around 50 years). As a result, 2 of the train's 56 wheels became derailed. All vehicles within the train remained on the track and upright.


As a result of the axle failure, it became impossible to move the train. (Imagine trying to move a car with a broken axle).


Firstly, before any recovery or clearance work could be undertaken, the cause of the incident had to be investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. As you may be aware, safety standards are somewhat higher on the rail network than they are on the M1 and I make no apologies for the industry taking a reasonable time to ascertain the cause of the incident. It is only from such investigations that we will learn how to avoid similar incidents in future.


Once the site investigation had been completed, a breakdown crane had to be brought by rail to site to lift the train, take the broken wheelset out and install a new wheelset. This task is normally done on depot where there are the proper facilities. This time it was being done in snowy conditions in the middle of the countryside so it took a lot longer. This task of removing and replacing the wheelset took until the end of Sunday.


The derailment damaged around 1,100 track components over a 2.5 mile distance. These had to be replaced and is a major job in any circumstances, let alone at short notice and in the snow experienced on Sunday morning. This took Network Rail from Sunday evening until 0130 this morning (Wednesday) to do.

This work could not start in earnest until the train was removed from site on Sunday evening.


Both lines had to be blocked for both days because the adjacent line was needed to bring the materials (sleepers etc.) required for the track repairs.

Obviously it is not possible to use the line which is under repair to transport the materials, so the method of working is to use the adjacent line.


In the circumstances, we are extremely lucky that no one was injured or killed in the incident, in which circumstances the line would have been closed for a lot longer. It is a sorry reflection that on the motorways even an incident involving death or injury receives only a cursory investigation but perhaps one day there will be the roads equivalent of the Rail (or Air) Accident Investigation Branches and safety will be regarded with the same degree of importance on the roads as it is by the rail industry.

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End of quote.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Dave Rowland]

[QUOTE=John H-T;42813]This quote from EMT to a local MP is far more informative! I have no hesitation in posting it as I picked it up elsewhere on the net: Quote:

Now that's what I CALL an explanation - why can't the PUBLIC/MEDIA be more aptly informed likewise? I'm sure the long-suffering travelling fraternity would be a lot more patient and understanding if given the facts in such a fashion.