While passing through Peterborough in April 2022 on a Lumo service, some passengers were jolted from their seats and hurt by fallen luggage.
When the limits of 30 mph (48 km/h) and 25 mph (40 km/h) were in effect, it was moving at 76 mph (122 km/h).
There are several suggestions from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
On the approach to Peterborough Station, the driver allegedly sped over three sets of points, according to investigators.
They discovered that the train was approaching a speed where overturning was likely and that it was likely that some carriage wheels would have come off the rails.
The examination revealed that the driver had ignored a signal that the train was moving at a slower speed and choosing an alternative path.
The RAIB claimed that Lumo had not “assessed and controlled the risk associated with trains being unexpectedly routed on a slower, diverging route at this location”.
Additionally, investigators discovered that the driver’s training was insufficient for the local signals.
In locations where there is a great distance between the protecting signal and the junction itself, Network Rail “neither assessed nor effectively controlled the risk of overspeeding,” the research continued.
Following yet another speeding incident involving a Grand Central service at the same place on May 4, urgent advise was sent to the industry.
According to rail accident chief inspector Andrew Hall, the situation “could have been much worse.”
He declared that cooperation between Network Rail and train operators was “absolutely necessary” to reduce hazards.
Lumo has “already implemented all the recommended actions,” according to a spokeswoman, including “how we train our drivers and how we control and manage luggage on board our trains.”
It apologized to everyone on board that particular day and added: “It was a painful experience for all involved. We have worked closely with the RAIB and have taken this experience’s lessons to heart.
According to Paul Rutter, route director for Network Rail’s east coast line, the company’s “top priority” is the safety of its customers and employees.
“We have carefully examined the protocols in place to avoid similar events in the future and have looked into a number of possibilities, which we will now try to put into practice.
We take events like these very seriously, and as the RAIB stated, we are working with train operators on the East Coast Main Line to address this problem right now.
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