Lessons Learned: Rail Shunter Struck, Train Driver, Unaware of Proximity/Speed
Sometimes it’s a case of all the unlikely things that could happen, happen at once — as in the RAIB investigation of a rail shunter being struck by a train in Bristol, UK.
The RAIB (Rail Accidents Investigation Branch) tells us that on September 26, 2023, a member of Great Western Railway (GWR) staff —a rail shunter — at St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol, was struck by a train that was exiting the depot’s main shed building. The train was traveling at 10 mph (16 km/h) at the time of the accident. After hearing the train strike something, the driver applied the brakes and stopped the train. Others working nearby saw that the shunter was lying next to the train and went to help them. The shunter, who had sustained serious injuries, was treated by paramedics and then taken to hospital.
After exiting the main shed building via a roller shutter door, the rail shunter had walked into the path of a train which its driver then started to move and accelerate much quicker than the shunter expected. The shunter took this route to get to a level crossing that ran across the end of the shed building.
RAIB found that the shunter did this as they wanted to check that no one was approaching the level crossing from a blind corner. The shunter regularly used the area between the main shed building and the level crossing as a walking route, so was used to being there. However, by using this route the shunter had to walk close to or foul of the train’s path. The shunter was also unaware that the train had started to move and did not realize it was catching up with them. They had expected to reach the level crossing before the train, but the train exceeded the speed limit of 5 mph (8 km/h). The driver did not observe the shunter walking ahead of the train so did not take any appropriate actions in response.
An underlying factor was that GWR had not effectively controlled the risk of a shunter being struck by a train outside of a shed building. Another underlying factor was that GWR’s assurance processes had not identified that train movements within the depot were exceeding the speed limit.
Following the accident, GWR updated its risk assessment and introduced new control measures to specifically manage the risks to staff associated with trains moving outside the main shed building. GWR also addressed the deficiencies found with its assurance processes for monitoring if drivers were complying with the speed limits on its depots.
Recommendations
As a result of the investigation, RAIB has made two recommendations. Both are addressed to GWR. The first is to review the personal track safety training and assessment it provides for a rail shunter, so that they receive an appropriate level of information and assessment about working and walking on depots. The second is to identify the places on its depots where its staff might be required to walk foul of a train’s path when using a walking route or walkway, and then manage the risk of its staff being struck by a train in these locations.
RAIB has also identified four learning points. The first is to remind staff who work and walk on depots and in sidings of the personal track safety requirement to look out for approaching trains at least every 5 seconds when walking on the railway. The second is to remind drivers of the importance of complying with all speed limits on depots and in sidings. The third highlights the importance of drivers and shunters coming to a clear understanding about a train movement. The fourth is for staff who work in safety‑critical roles to remember to declare to their employer if they have taken any medication that might have the potential to impact on their performance.
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Read the full RAIB report: “Member of staff struck by a train at St Philips Marsh depot,” published July 11, 2024.
