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All across the Great Western territory => The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues => Topic started by: Chris from Nailsea on September 17, 2015, 23:31:51



Title: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 17, 2015, 23:31:51
From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34283057):

Quote
Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt

(http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/18344/production/_85604199_e5ad0dc0-9de6-4cf9-a691-7f40050ad763.jpg)
The Govia Thameslink service from Cambridge hit the buffers when it reached its destination at King's Cross

Five people were hurt when a train hit the buffers as it came into London's King's Cross.

The accident on platform 11 involved the 10:55 BST Govia Thameslink service from Cambridge.

Passenger Matthew Blakemore was travelling in the front carriage and said there was a "huge bang" and "everyone was thrown around".

Ambulance crews treated five people for minor injuries and two people were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Network Rail said in a statement the train was involved in a "low-speed collision with the buffer stops" at about 12:18.

Mr Blakemore, 27, was travelling from Hatfield to London for a business meeting and said: "Everyone was standing up preparing to get off. It all seemed fine, the train was slowing down as it came into the station but it didn't stop. At the time we heard a big bang and all of us were panicking. We didn't know what it was, we thought it might be terrorism, we just didn't know. A few people were standing in the aisle and one girl was thrown all the way down the carriage, she hurt her shoulder quite badly. The doors opened after about a minute but the roof by the doors of the train had come down in the impact. I was fine, just a bit shocked."

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink said: "We worked with paramedics to help those who were injured and apologise to those affected by the incident. We will cooperate fully with any investigation."

Two other Great Northern rail services have been cancelled as a result of the crash and two services will run with fewer carriages than usual, he said.

Platform 11 has been closed while investigations are carried out. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: ChrisB on September 18, 2015, 08:35:28
Second one in quick succession. Wasn't there another in the Cambridge area recently?


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Oxonhutch on September 18, 2015, 10:25:34
Are these units fitted with a Westinghouse brake?


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: eightf48544 on September 18, 2015, 10:50:14
It will be the Electro Pneumatic (EP) version where by the brakes are activated on every coach by an electrical signal. As opposed to straight Westinghouse where you have to wait for the drop in air pressure to promulgate down the train as on loco hauled air braked trains.

I thought the TPWS overspeed grids are supposed to prevent trains entering a deadend too fast.



(Edit: Typo)


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Oxonhutch on September 18, 2015, 10:59:29
But if the EP fails, I would assume it reverts to straight Westinghouse where you only get two or three applications before you lose air. I believe that on the Undergound on EP fitted stock, the driver was expected to do a straight Westinghouse stop once per shift to keep his or her hand in. Just a thought.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: IndustryInsider on September 18, 2015, 11:04:39
I thought the TPWS overspeed grids are supposed to prevent trains entering a deadend too fast.

They are usually set at around 10mph, but a collision with the buffers at less than 10mph could easily be enough to cause the minor injuries described.  I speak from experience having been involved in a similar incident myself in Norway.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: JayMac on September 18, 2015, 11:04:46
I've read elsewhere, uncorroborated, that the train was below 10mph over the TPWS grid, so no activation.

Also, again uncorroborated, it was a trainee driver under instruction.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Oxonhutch on September 18, 2015, 11:26:48
I speak from experience having been involved in a similar incident myself in Norway.

In Norway hey?  Is that what they call it in the industry?  :P ;D


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: chrisr_75 on September 18, 2015, 12:38:25
I believe that on the Undergound on EP fitted stock, the driver was expected to do a straight Westinghouse stop once per shift to keep his or her hand in. Just a thought.

My understanding is that where a Westinghouse brake is fitted on LUL (not much stock left now that has it!), the driver must use this to bring the train to a halt at the station prior to the terminus, to ensure that it is working correctly, presumably in order that the train can be brought safely to a stop at the terminus in the event of a power or other failure in the EP system.

Edit - I've also read on an LUL forum that some drivers used to prefer to use the Westinghouse brake as a matter of routine, but as mentioned, stock fitted with such is becoming rather rarer these days (I think only the 72/73 tube stock on Bakerloo & Piccadilly lines is the only variant remaining, with the exception of any engineering vehicles).


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: eightf48544 on September 18, 2015, 14:09:30
I used to travel with an ex LT tube driver (Northern Line) he said they always did their Westinghouse stop at Golders Green as it was the longest platform.

The masters of the Westinghouse brake were the 4 SUB drivers on the South Western and Central suburban lines.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: TonyK on September 18, 2015, 15:57:49

They are usually set at around 10mph, but a collision with the buffers at less than 10mph could easily be enough to cause the minor injuries described.  I speak from experience having been involved in a similar incident myself in Norway.

At times such as these, the layman learns the difference between speed and momentum.


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Tim on September 18, 2015, 17:47:58
I wonder if injuries and damage would have been mitigated had KX been equipped with a modern buffer stop rather than one made out of scrap rail?


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: ChrisB on September 18, 2015, 21:38:41
Or even if pax had remained seated until the train came to a stop?

Pax are their own worst enemies quite often


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Brucey on September 18, 2015, 21:59:14
Or even if pax had remained seated until the train came to a stop?

Pax are their own worst enemies quite often
Assuming there are enough seats for every passenger...


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: grahame on September 18, 2015, 22:07:20
Or even if pax had remained seated until the train came to a stop?

As you always do?  ;D


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Red Squirrel on September 18, 2015, 22:35:11
Or even if pax had remained seated until the train came to a stop?

Pax are their own worst enemies quite often

Only passengers in high-backed rear-facing seats would gain much benefit from remaining seated. Anyone else will be carried by their own inertia until they are acted upon by an external force, e.g. a stanchion or another seat.

Quote

"An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."


Newton's First Law, innit.



Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 18, 2015, 22:46:18
You are remarkably erudite, for a squirrel.  ;) :D ;D


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: ChrisB on September 19, 2015, 07:17:30
At that time?....i think so


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: JayMac on September 19, 2015, 07:57:40
You are remarkably erudite, for a squirrel.  ;) :D ;D

Erudite? That's a proprietary brand of epoxy adhesive isn't it?


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: TonyK on September 19, 2015, 09:43:35

Quote

"An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."


Newton's First Law, innit.



I live by Newton's Fourth Law. "No matter how you shake and dance, the last drop..."


Title: Re: Govia Thameslink King's Cross rail crash: Five hurt (17 September 2015)
Post by: Penzance-Paddington on September 19, 2015, 13:51:58
From the photo, it seems the train coped well with the impact.



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