A train derailed when hauling a set of wagons used to supply Heathrow Airport with aviation fuel at West Ealing at 0610 on April 5. It was returning from Colnbrook (beside the airport) to Grain oil terminal (on the Thames estuary).
The three wheels of the Class 66 locomotive, 66776 Joanna, came off the rails at a set of trap points beyond signal SN216 on the West Ealing goods loop (pictured below).
Network Rail said the wagons, which were empty following the delivery, remained on the track. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
The Up lines towards Paddington were closed for much of the morning, so that Network Rail could assess whether it was safe for trains to pass. The Up Relief line only reopened at lunchtime.
Great Western Railway and Elizabeth line services continued to be severely disrupted throughout the day.
The wagons were easily recovered, but Network Rail waited until after the evening peak to re-rail the stricken locomotive, using hydraulic jacks. The route was already due to be closed the following day for engineering work, which also coincided with a strike on GWR by drivers in the ASLEF union, with no services in or out of Paddington.
GBRf said in a statement: “We are currently working with the authorities to determine the cause of a slow-speed minor derailment of one of our trains. The site of the incident is safe and we’re working to get the train re-railed.”
It confirmed that the wagons were empty, and that the infrastructure worked correctly.
A Network Rail source said there was no suggestion that the derailment was caused by anything other than passing a signal set at danger.
The Office of Rail and Road recorded 266 signals passed at danger in 2022-23. In 2002-03, there were 402.
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