Safety is at the heart of today's key news stories....An unwelcome and sad first for Crossrail with the death of a contractor at the Holborn site.... Network Rail apologizes for level crossing deaths....this following on from the House of Commons Transport Select Committee Eleventh Report.
Sadly, deaths on Indian Railways are a frequent daily occurrence...5 at Thane....and to get a glimpse of the pressure , take a look at the BBC iPlayer and "Bombay Railway: Pressure" in the next week....
HS2 attracts some positive remarks from Yorkshire... and does the new comms director of HS2 have a difficult challenge before him?
And perhaps you are a steam enthusiast, and want to get involved with the P2 project in some way...well, there are a series of meetings in the next month or two........
Read On......
Headlines...
Derby's railway credentials surely make it a leader in race new rail academy.(Derby Telegraph)
Taiwan High Speed Rail to elect new chair next week.(FocusTaiwan)
High-speed rail ‘can help to transform’ large regional cities.(Yorkshire Post)
Crossrail construction worker is killed in tunnel in Holborn.(London Evening Standard)
Five rail-related deaths on a day in Thane.(dna india.com)
Bombay Railway - 1. Pressures. (Available on BBC iPlayer until 13th March 2014)
Documentary about Bombay's vast suburban rail network, which serves six-and-a-half million commuters every day. As Bombay's population swells by tens of thousands each week, the railway and the people whose lives revolve around it struggle to cope with the pressure and the peaktime 'super-dense crush load'. From the train driver to the illegal hawker and the homeless shoe-shine boy, each has a story to tell about this remarkable railway system, often described as the lifeline of India. (R)
Network Rail had 'callous disregard' for level crossing deaths, say MPs.(The Guardian)
Network Rail apologises to families over level crossing deaths. (BBC News)
Transport Committee - Eleventh Report. Safety at level crossings .(www.parliament.uk)
Summary
Level crossings are a significant source of risk on the UK's transport networks. Although the number of accidental deaths at level crossings has decreased in recent years, nine people died in 2012-13. Every one of those deaths was a personal tragedy which could have been averted. We recommend that the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which is responsible for rail safety, adopt an explicit target of zero fatalities at level crossings from 2020.
Calculating which level crossings are the most risky is complex but we estimate that there may be many hundreds of crossings which exceed Health and Safety Executive guidance on the acceptable level of fatality risk to the public. Network Rail should be more transparent about its assessment of risk at level crossings and its plans for closures and improvements. We also recommend that Network Rail continue to employ level crossing managers to focus on improving safety.
We are concerned that the ORR may not have enough appropriately qualified and experienced staff to provide adequate inspection of the rail network or to adequately challenge Network Rail's signalling work plans. The ORR board should consider whether just seven professionally-qualified signalling engineers is an adequate number of staff to provide inspections nationally, both of existing installations and proposed works. The ORR must improve its grip on overseeing how Network Rail identifies and deals with the riskiest level crossings.
We heard harrowing evidence from the families of people killed and severely injured at level crossings, particularly about how the deaths could have been avoidedand how relatives were subsequently treated by Network Rail. Issues raised with us included how Network Rail withheld key documents from court; untrue accusations that people accidentally killed had "misused" the level crossing or trespassed on railway land; and Network Rail's disproportionate level of legal representation at inquests. Network Rail admitted to us that its management of level crossings has previously been negligent and that its behaviour towards bereaved families has been appalling. Its chief executive owes each of the families it has let down a full, public apology. Given that Network Rail has recently been held responsible for the serious accident at Beccles in July 2010 we would be very concerned if its Remuneration Committee awarded bonuses to executive directors this year. Network Rail must now demonstrate that it has transformed the way in which it deals with people whose lives have been changed by accidents at level crossings.
We also make recommendations about a number of detailed matters including driver training, teaching schoolchildren about rail safety, the legal framework for level crossings, road signage and whistleblowing in the rail industry.
Network Rail must apologise for past handling of tragedies.
The Transport Committee believes Network Rail must apologise for past handling of tragedies and should aim to cut fatalities at level crossings to zero by 2020.
Launching a report on safety at level crossings, Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Committee said today:
"Across Great Britain, Network Rail has reduced level crossing risk by 26% since 2009. However, when suicides and trespass are excluded, level crossings still account for one half of all fatalities on the railway in recent years. Nine people died at level crossings in 2012-13."
"Every one of those deaths was a personal tragedy which could have been averted. Yet looking back it's clear that on too many occasions Network Rail showed a callous disregard for the feelings of the families of people killed or seriously injured in accidents at level crossings.
"Victims were erroneously described as 'trespassers' or accused of 'misuse' of the railway when, in fact, they tried to use level crossings appropriately.
"Network Rail's chief executive must provide a full, public apology to all of the families it has let down - both for the mistakes which contributed to the accidental deaths and for the subsequent treatment of bereaved families.
"Network Rail must also demonstrate that it has transformed the way in which it deals with people whose lives are changed by accidents at level crossings.
"A lack of transparency around safety concerns at the Elsenham crossing was particularly shocking and raises profound questions about Network Rail's internal culture and accountability.
“Network Rail should also consider what level of legal representation is appropriate at inquests, taking care to ensure bereaved families are not left feeling disadvantaged.
“Given that Network Rail has recently been held responsible for the serious accident at Beccles in July 2010 we do not believe executive directors should get any bonuses this year.
"Looking to the future we urge the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which is responsible for rail safety, to adopt an explicit target of zero fatalities at level crossings from 2020. We recognise this won't be easy because having relied mainly on closures to improve safety at level crossings to date Network Rail may find further improvements progressively more difficult to achieve.
"We also call on the Government to consider whether Network Rail and its employees should be subject to a ‘duty of candour’, analogous to the recommendations of the Francis Inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.”
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