RAIB report finds distracted driver sped through red signal

An accident report has found that an electric locomotive ran 750 metres beyond a signal at danger (red) because it was travelling too fast to stop in time.

The locomotive, operated by Freightliner, was on a test run after repair work on August 22 last year when it passed the signal. It ran through points before coming to a stand at Stafford Trent Valley Junction No. 1, in a position that conflicted with a route that had been set for a southbound train. No one was injured, but the points were damaged.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigation found that the driver’s focus was diverted from the aspects of previous warning signals because they were dealing with a fault on the locomotive.

RAIB also found that the consequences of the incident were exacerbated by the high level of acceleration applied after the driver cleared the fault, the configuration of the locomotive and by the locomotive being driven at speeds above those permitted by relevant operating rules. Also, no engineered safety system intervened to apply the brakes before they were applied by the driver.

The report makes two recommendations to Freightliner. The first deals with reviewing risk assessments and processes for the operation of light locomotives and test runs, and the second relates to how drivers are trained and assessed in the skills required to manage out-of-course, abnormal and potentially stressful events.