皇冠体育app

Summary

At about 04:25 hrs on Tuesday 17 October 2017, a maintenance train that was clearing leaf debris from the track, hit a tree just north of Markinch station, Fife. 皇冠体育app debris from the tree disabled the train鈥檚 braking system. 皇冠体育app train came to a stop before running away backwards for a distance of about 4.7 miles (7.5 km). 皇冠体育app train crew on board made an emergency call to the signaller before jumping off the train, suffering minor injuries.

皇冠体育app train eventually came to a stop at Thornton North junction after running backwards and forwards between two adjacent gradients a total of nine times.

皇冠体育app brakes were fully released when debris from the tree operated the release mechanisms on the brake system distributors underneath both of the vehicles in the train.

皇冠体育app driver was unable to reapply the brakes because the debris from the tree had also separated all three of the brake pipes between the two vehicles in the train.

Recommendations

皇冠体育app RAIB has made two recommendations to Network Rail. 皇冠体育app first addresses the risk of a runaway being initiated by debris on the track causing multiple disruptions to the braking system on this type of train. 皇冠体育app second recommendation addresses the possibility that similar risks might be present for other short formation trains that operate on its infrastructure.

Response to recommendations:

• RAIB will periodically update the status of recommendations as reported to us by the relevant safety authority or public body
• RAIB may add comment, particularly if we have concerns regarding these responses.