ORR: train drivers need sufficient rest

Train companies and unions have been told to be more vigilant when rostering crews for long night shifts when they have had insufficient rest.

Safety instructions from the Office of Rail and Road highlight the threats caused by repetitive routes, short turnarounds, filling in during staffing shortages, and insufficient rest time after starting work early.

The ORR says driver fatigue is a factor in a fifth of all serious rail accidents. It has identified 17 Rail Accident Investigation Branch recommendations on this topic arising from incidents between 2010 and 2022.

It places equal blame on individuals and their employers, and says that no one should work more than 12 hours a day or more than seven days in a row.

This has impacted on availability.