Kennington - incidents - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Tim]

Not strictly true - there is a get out clause, with the 12-month limit only applying "in normal circumstances" whatever they are, which I guess would allow for them to do justice to a particularly complex investigation. And it would appear, judging by the more recent clutch of reports emanating from RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) that they seem to be getting their act together in terms of publishing within 12 months.

Finally, let's not stick the boot in too much - the RAIB is an infinitely better system (and, it would seem, much better trusted by rail staff who are therefore prepared to co-operate without risking incriminating themselves) than the festivals of finger-pointing, mud-slinging and blame apportioning presided over by certain previous administrations at the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) and HSE^▸ (Health and Safety Executive).

You are right that there is a get out clause, but that only applies to unusual circumstances.  The 12 month deadline applies in almost all cases.

I agree that the system is infinately better than the previous one.  BTP and HSE were both awful and did alot of damage. 

And its good to see them speeding up, but I don't think they are where they should be yet.

[Chris from Nailsea]

To be fair, in the past few weeks, the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) have published four reports, as follows:

Kennington Junction - incident happened on 23 May 2008, report published on 12 November 2009;

Dalston Junction - accident involving a railway track worker on 30 March 2009, report published on 19 November 2009;

Eden Valley loop - incident happened on 4 July 2009, report published on 19 November 2009;

Bayles & Wylies footpath crossing - involving the deaths of two pedestrians on 22 November 2008, report published on 19 November 2009.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Network Rail fined ^150,000 over track accidents

Network Rail has been fined ^150,000 for breaching health and safety laws following the death of one worker and the serious injury of another.

Charles Stockwell, from Reading, was hit by a train and killed while welding at Ruscombe, Berkshire in April 2007.

Track worker David Coles was struck by a train which severed his leg in 2008 at Kennington Junction near Oxford.

The sentencing at Reading Crown Court follows a lengthy investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation.

The regulator found Network Rail had failed to ensure the safety of its employees.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Network Rail respects the verdict of the court and has apologised today for its shortcomings. The judge acknowledged that we have made improvements to our maintenance regime. We will always strive to make further improvements."