ORR publishes Railway Safety Annual Report 2005

12 July 2006
ORR/20/06

Safety performance on Britain’s railways is continuing to improve, the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) Chief Inspector of Railways, Linda Williams, said today.

ORR Annual Report on Railway Safety 2005 is the first report on the safety record of Britain’s railways to be published by ORR since the merger with HSE Rail on 1 April 2006, although it covers a period when Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) was still under the governance of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive (HSC/E).

Commenting on the report Linda Williams said:
“This is my first annual report on railway safety as I took on the role of Chief Inspector from my predecessor Allan Sefton, in December 2005. This is also the first time that the report covers a complete calendar, rather than financial, year.

“I am pleased to report there were no major train incidents involving multiple injuries or fatalities. Regrettably there were 33 fatalities during the period covered by this report, including six worker fatalities and ten passenger deaths.
“The other fatalities were accounted for by 9 pedestrians, 4 road vehicle drivers, and two cyclists, all killed at level crossings, and one person killed by a tram.

“These figures indicate why we cannot afford to become complacent and must continue to work with the railway industry to manage the risks to workers, passengers and members of the public.

“Additionally, we must not forget those who died or were injured in the bombings in London on 7 July. Although not directly involved, HMRI provided advice and assistance to London Underground.”

The annual report provides statistics on key performance indicators reflecting the rail safety performance in the UK and covers the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 which is in accordance with the European regulations and in line with the European Rail Agency.

Headline figures from the report include:

• No passenger fatalities in train incidents, compared to 5 in 2004;
• 6 staff fatalities, compared to 10 in 2004;
• 10 passenger fatalities from all causes, compared to 13 in 2004;
• 16 people killed on level crossings: 1 train driver (of a miniature train), 4
  were drivers of road vehicles, 2 cyclists and 9 pedestrians, compared to a total of 17 in 2004;
• 339 signals passed at danger (spads), compared to 357 in 2004;
• 27 train incidents on level crossings, compared to 29 in 2004; and
• 452 train incidents caused by vandalism, compared to 642 in 2004.

Level crossings continue to have the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on Britain’s railways and high profile incidents such as the deaths of two teenage girls (aged 13 & 14) at Elsenham station have raised the public awareness of the risks posed by level crossings.
 
Research has been commissioned to better understand and seek solutions to risks at level crossings. Network Rail has continued its work to reduce level crossing risk, including eliminating some crossings and upgrading others.

Network Rail has embarked on a £3 million campaign aimed at influencing the behaviour of level crossing users, the single largest cause of incidents at level crossings.

While the number of incidents due to vandalism continues to fall, vandalism still accounts for almost half of all reportable incidents. The potential for serious consequences arising from obstructions on the track, arson and missiles thrown at trains remains a major cause for concern.

Notes for editors

1. An executive summary of ORR Annual Report on Railway Safety 2005 is attached to this press notice.
2. ORR Annual Report on Railway Safety 2005 covers the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005. This is in accordance with EU requirements, and matches the rail safety and standards board which publishes its performance reports on a calendar year basis. The report is available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/296.pdf.
3. The Railway Inspectorate – which became Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate in 1990 (HMRI) on its transfer to HSE – has published annual reports on railway safety for over 150 years. Since October 1986, these have been produced under a memorandum of understanding between the HSC and the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport. This required HSE’s HMRI to make an annual report to HSC and the Transport Secretary. The report covers all railways in Great Britain, including Network Rail Infrastructure, London Underground, Tyne and Wear Metro, Docklands Light Railway, minor railways and tram systems, etc. This is the first report on the safety record of Britain’s railways to be published by ORR since the merger with HSE Rail on 1 April 2006, although it covers a period when HMRI was still under the governance of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive (HSC/E). 
4. The report is principally a source of statistical data derived from the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), including information on key findings and trends. It also provides a mechanism for disseminating information about the work of HMRI and an opportunity to cascade messages on emerging issues and findings from investigations, which would not necessarily justify separate publication.
5. HMRI was reorganised during 2005, with major changes to the organisational structure and ways of working. This was largely in preparation for the new Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (safety) Reguations, 2006.  These require a change of approach from safety cases to safety certificates and authorisations,  and the gradual move from formal HMRI approvals of new and substantial changes to the railway infrastructure and rolling stock.
6. In October 2005, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) became responsible for carrying out independent investigations into the most serious incidents on the railways. HMRI remains responsible for the investigation of breaches of health and safety legislation and for for the overseeing the implementation of RAIB recommendations.  A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is in place.

Executive summary

Enforcement, prosecutions, complaints

• There were 18 enforcement notices issued, compared with 21 issued in 2004.
• There were five prosecutions heard, with fines totalling £11,019,000. This compares with 25 heard in 2004, where fines totalled £3,652,600. Two offences date back to 2000 and relate to the prosecution (by CPS) of Balfour Beatty and Network Rail Infrastructure (Railtrack) regarding their roles in the Hatfield derailment.
• HMRI responded to 575 complaints concerning conditions on the railway, compared with 676 recorded for 2004.

Train incidents and incidents involving passengers, staff and members of the public

• There were 1057 train incidents (of all sorts), compared with 1336 in 2004.
• There were no train incident passenger fatalities.
• There were seven fatalities in incidents involving road vehicles of all descriptions at level crossings.
• Train collisions in 2005 totalled 27, compared with 60 in 2004.
• Damage to train windows totalled 299 in 2005 (368 in 2004).
• In 2005 a total of 33 passengers, railway staff and other members of the public were fatally injured, compared with 35 in 2004.
• 10 passenger fatalities in 2005, compared with 14 in 2004.
• 6 railway staff fatalities in 2005, compared with 14 in 2004.
• 17 deaths of other members of the public, compared with 13 in 2004.
• There were no passenger fatalities resulting from train incidents.

Train protection strategy – TPWS and SPADs

• For the Network Rail network, SPAD risk was reduced by 86% since the March 2001 benchmark.
• 339 SPADs, 18 fewer than in 2004.
• 119 SPADs categorised as serious, 14 fewer than in 2004.
• No collisions, injuries or fatalities to staff or passengers caused by SPADs.
• The Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) continued to deliver the safety benefits identified in the last annual report.
• Network Rail fitment of TPWS+ was completed.
• Reset-and-continue incidents greatly reduced.

Level crossings

• 27 train incidents at level crossings
• 7 non-pedestrian fatalities at level crossings, comprising:
• 4 drivers of road vehicles
• 2 cyclists
• 1 train driver.
• 9 pedestrian fatalities at level crossings.
• 7674 level crossings on the Network Rail national network – the fourth successive year there has been a reduction in the total number of level crossings on Network Rail controlled infrastructure.

Trespass and vandalism

• 280 members of the public died as a result of trespass and suicide, of whom 189 were confirmed or suspected suicides.
• 7 children under the age of 16 died while trespassing, up from a historical low of 2 child trespass deaths during 2004.
• 452 (43%) of the 1057 reportable train incidents were due to acts of vandalism, continuing the downward trend of recent years.

Fires

• There were a total of 187 reportable train fires, compared with 323 in 2004.
• 168 reportable train fires were on passenger trains, compared with 310 in 2004.
• 19 reportable train fires were on freight trains, compared with 13 in 2004.
• 96 train fires were due to arson, compared with 188 in 2004, and 141 in 2003.
• There were 112 reportable lineside and station fires, compared with 95 in 2004.

Failures of rolling stock and infrastructure

• 318 rail breaks were reported on Network Rail controlled infrastructure (NRCI). This figure continues a trend of major improvement from 1999 when 939 breaks were recorded.
• 57 track buckles were reported on NRCI and two on other rail infrastructures. 
• 2034 bridge strikes were reported on NRCI.

Health and safety of employees

• A total of six workforce fatalities were reported to HMRI.
• There were 282 assaults on staff on the rail network in 2005, notifiable under RIDDOR.
• RIDDOR returns on major and minor injuries showed no increase this year.
• HMRI continues to be concerned at the level of risk to railway employees, particularly trackside workers, and is networking with industry to tackle the issue.
• HMRI continued to work with the rail industry and other sectors to tackle the issue of staff assaults.

Underground railways

• 28 people fatally injured on London Underground Limited (LUL) infrastructure. Of these 4 were passengers, 18 were trespassers, and 6 were suicides.
• No employee fatalities on LUL or Glasgow Subway infrastructures.
• Reliability problems encountered with LUL Northern Line train tripcocks.
• HMRI provided advice and assistance to LUL after the 7 July bombings.

Light rapid transit and minor railways

• In December 2005, Docklands Airport extension opened for public service.
• Continued HMRI advice and assistance to proposed new and existing tramway schemes.
• The driver of a miniature train was killed when the locomotive struck a car on a level crossing and derailed.
• There were 44 incidents on minor railways reported under RIDDOR regulations.

Press enquiries

ORR press office – 020 7282 2007/2141