Barrow upon Soar rail crash

In October 2007, the track asset manager (TAM) identified the need to remove wet beds and clean drains on the down slow line between 109 miles 230 and 300 yards.^[a] These works were scheduled for 2nd February 2008, with ballast being delivered between 06:00 and 08:00 UTC by road on 30th and 31st January and 1st February 2008. The first two deliveries on January 30th and 31st were completed successfully without incident.^[1]

At approximately 06:30 UTC on 1st February 2008, a tipper lorry delivering quarry stone (ballast for track formation) had delivered its load adjacent to the tracks along a railway access road but had not lowered its rear tipping body.^[3] This came into contact with the wrought iron pedestrian bridge which crosses the railway, knocking it off its pillars and onto the tracks, by the High Street in Barrow upon Soar village centre. This blocked all four lines. The Network Rail employee who had been supervising the delivery made an emergency call to the signaller at Leicester power signal box and asked for all train movements to be stopped in the area.^[1] The lorry driver immediately notified the police who then notified Network Rail.^{[citation needed]}

The service involved was the East Midlands Trains 06:13 Nottingham to Norwich (service 1L03) operated by 158856.^[1] It received the emergency call as did all of the other trains. However, it was too late; travelling at 65 miles per hour (105 km/h),^[3] the train could not stop in time and collided with rubble from the footbridge at 06:32 UTC. The train derailed and took 186 yards (170m) to stop, coming to rest partially under a road bridge.^[2] All other trains avoided the incident stopping when receiving the call. One resident described two huge bangs; the first of the lorry hitting the bridge, the second the train hitting it minutes later.^{[citation needed]}

Following the accident, services were halted for the day on the line. A spokesperson from East Midlands Trains said services would return the next day, which they did, but disruptions were expected to continue for a longer period.^[4] The RAIB recommended the review of alarm systems on tipper lorries, asses the risks on how road vehicles are controlled near live tracks on Network Rail property and ensure staff understand the difference between T2 and T12 protections; and that RSSB consider the practicality of design elements to limit bogie deviation during a derailment.^[1]

Six passengers were hurt, none seriously. The train driver, having been trapped for two and a half hours and needing to be cut out when the front of the cab caved in, suffered two broken legs.^[1][3] The Controller of Site Safety (COSS) onboard the lorry, the guard of the train and one passenger were taken to hospital, they were released the next day. The driver was released early the next morning. Despite major damage to the cab,^[5] the lorry driver escaped without injury.^[1]

Following this, the RAIB started an investigation on the accident. Their findings were published to Gov.uk for the public on the 10th December 2014. They found the immediate cause to be the train's inability to stop before hitting the debris of the fallen footbridge.^[1][2] Other causes included the driver of the lorry forgetting to fully lower the body, potentially due to his distraction from normal duties when he opened the passenger door to allow the COSS inside; and the design of the visual alarm in the cab of the lorry which was such that it could be easily overlooked.^[1]

On the 3rd October 2011, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), announced Network Rail was to be prosecuted on Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 section 2(1) and 3(1) and regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. They were fined £80000 and were ordered to pay £32000.^[3][6]