Safety

Ukrainian railway delegates at Rail Live 2024

Feature

Rail Live 2025: The agenda and subjects for day two’s seminar theatres

The agenda for Rail Live's seminar theatres includes talking points about a host of pressing industry concerns, with insights from attending experts.

Engineering 3 Jun

The force of the crash is evidenced not only by the damage to 86242, but also that caused to both the platform and canopy, debris from which lies both on the platform and in the permanent way. Despite the damage, both Class 86s involved in the accident were returned to service. This locomotive was subsequently exported to Hungary in 2013 and is still there. ALAMY.

Feature

Nuneaton 1975: lessons from overspeeds

Greg Morse on the incident at Nuneaton in June 1975 that claimed the lives of six people, and how the industry continues to focus on preventing any repeat.

Health and wellbeing 30 May

Ian Prosser is former HM Chief Inspector of Railways and Director of Railway Safety at the Office of Rail and Road.

Comment

Rail safety needs better change management

Ian Prosser, former HM Chief Inspector of Railways and Director of Railway Safety at the ORR, on the need for better change management on the railway.

Industry views 27 May

Comment

Comment: The smallest things can compromise level crossing safety

Philip Haigh looks at the circumstances and chain of events that led to a collision at Redcar.

Phil Haigh 8 May

The wagon and track panel involved in the incident near Port Glasgow. RAIB.

News

RAIB investigating after track worker is trapped between wagon and track panel

Two workers were struck by a wagon, with one trapped between the wagon and a track panel.

RAIB 11 Apr

News

Train Collision with Car due to Signalling Error, RAIB Report Finds

A signalling error where the signaller forgot the level crossing gates were open was the cause of a passenger train collision with a car, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found.

RAIB 3 Apr

Track workers at Basingstoke. PAUL BIGLAND.

News

Network Rail details "step change" in track worker safety following deaths - number of lookouts plummets

Network Rail and ORR speak to RAIL after two prosecutions in February over the deaths of three track workers.

Network Rail 19 Mar

Managed chaos at Moorgate as emergency services undertake the task of recovering the dead. ALAMY.

Feature

What caused the Moorgate Tube crash of 1975?

Fifty years ago, 43 people lost their lives in the Moorgate Tube crash. Mike Lewis was at the station that morning, and vividly remembers the scenes.

Investigations 26 Feb

News

RAIB releases report into passenger train derailment after striking fallen trees

A passenger train derailed after striking two trees that had fallen onto the tracks near Roudham Heath, Norfolk, according to a report released by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

RAIB 4 Feb

Cameras at Custom House station detect youths taking a short cut across the tracks. KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS.

Feature

How AI is improving safety on the UK network

Often portrayed negatively in the media, Artificial Intelligence is an innovation that can be a force for good - as it certainly is on the railways.

Digitalisation 20 Jan

Cambrian Line crash near Talerddig and Llanbrynmair with 158841, left, and 158824, right

News

Magnetic track brakes 'would save lives', safety expert claims

A former Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways has called for magnetic track brakes (MTBs) to be fitted to British main line trains

Safety 8 Jan

Comment

Comment: From 1825 to 2025… and beyond

RAIL Editor Dickon Ross on the call for UK trains to have magnetic track brakes fitted, and rail’s bicentenary in an increasingly fast-changing world.

Editor's comment 8 Jan

Comment

Opinon: Looking back at Abermule 1921 - a head-on collision on Cambrian single line that killed 17

Philip Haigh tells the story of another Cambrian line accident over a century ago.

Phil Haigh 20 Nov

Rail Minister Lord Hendy at the RIA conference 2024. RAIL

News

Rail Minister Lord Hendy apologises for tone of letter to Systra in response to Euston safety concerns

Rail Minister Lord Hendy has publicly apologised for part of a letter sent to a supplier concerning an employee who had called Euston Station 'unsafe'.

Lord Peter Hendy 6 Nov

Ian Prosser, former HM Chief Inspector of Railways.

Feature

Ian Prosser interview: “A high-performing railway is a safe railway”

Recently retired HM Chief Inspector of Railways Ian Prosser discusses the approach to railway safety and the role of Great British Railways with Tony Streeter.

Investigations 31 Oct

Freight Train derailment in Audenshaw. RAIB.

News

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has issued an urgent safety advice notice regarding bridges with longitudinal timber systems after initial analysis from RAIB identified that it could be the cause of a derailment in Greater Manchester in September.

RAIB 25 Oct

Huge crowds at London Euston railway station concourse looking at the departure boards. London, England. ALAMY.

News

Passengers are in danger at London Euston, says watchdog

Passengers using London’s Euston station are being put in danger by high levels of overcrowding, according to London TravelWatch.

rail 7 Oct

Bosch person detection on Dickon Ross. RAIL

Comment

25 years on from Ladbroke Grove and innovation for a safer railway

RAIL Editor Dickon Ross on the future of rail safety, from the Innotrans rail technology show in Berlin.

Editor's comment 2 Oct

The scene at Ladbroke Grove, following the crash between a First Great Western HST and a Thames Turbo on October 5 1999. HSE.

Feature

25 years on: lessons from Ladbroke Grove and the future of rail safety

Twenty-five years ago, two passenger trains collided at Ladbroke Grove. The consequences for rail safety are still being felt today, as Paul Clifton explains.

Investigations 2 Oct

Comment

Opinion: Passenger support at stations - and making them safe for all

Philip Haigh examines two incidents which highlight the need for excellent customer service to go hand-in-hand with reliable services

Phil Haigh 27 Sept

Safety

Rail Live 2025: The agenda and subjects for day two’s seminar theatres

Nuneaton 1975: lessons from overspeeds

Rail safety needs better change management

Comment: The smallest things can compromise level crossing safety

RAIB investigating after track worker is trapped between wagon and track panel

Train Collision with Car due to Signalling Error, RAIB Report Finds

Network Rail details "step change" in track worker safety following deaths - number of lookouts plummets

What caused the Moorgate Tube crash of 1975?

RAIB releases report into passenger train derailment after striking fallen trees

How AI is improving safety on the UK network

Magnetic track brakes 'would save lives', safety expert claims

Comment: From 1825 to 2025… and beyond

Opinon: Looking back at Abermule 1921 - a head-on collision on Cambrian single line that killed 17

Rail Minister Lord Hendy apologises for tone of letter to Systra in response to Euston safety concerns

Ian Prosser interview: “A high-performing railway is a safe railway”

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

Passengers are in danger at London Euston, says watchdog

25 years on from Ladbroke Grove and innovation for a safer railway

25 years on: lessons from Ladbroke Grove and the future of rail safety

Opinion: Passenger support at stations - and making them safe for all

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Safety

Rail Live 2025: The agenda and subjects for day two’s seminar theatres

Nuneaton 1975: lessons from overspeeds

Rail safety needs better change management

Comment: The smallest things can compromise level crossing safety

RAIB investigating after track worker is trapped between wagon and track panel

Train Collision with Car due to Signalling Error, RAIB Report Finds

Network Rail details "step change" in track worker safety following deaths - number of lookouts plummets

What caused the Moorgate Tube crash of 1975?

RAIB releases report into passenger train derailment after striking fallen trees

How AI is improving safety on the UK network

Magnetic track brakes 'would save lives', safety expert claims

Comment: From 1825 to 2025… and beyond

Opinon: Looking back at Abermule 1921 - a head-on collision on Cambrian single line that killed 17

Rail Minister Lord Hendy apologises for tone of letter to Systra in response to Euston safety concerns

Ian Prosser interview: “A high-performing railway is a safe railway”

RAIB issues safety advice after freight train derailment

Passengers are in danger at London Euston, says watchdog

25 years on from Ladbroke Grove and innovation for a safer railway

25 years on: lessons from Ladbroke Grove and the future of rail safety

Opinion: Passenger support at stations - and making them safe for all

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains