An investigation into an incident which saw a high-speed train plough into 13 tonnes of debris from a bridge near Froxfield has been launched.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch confirmed today (Wednesday) that it was looking at the incident, which occurred after a reversing lorry knocked the parapet of a road bridge onto the railway tracks below at Oak Hill, an unclassified road off the A4.
A statement from the government body said the impact lifted the front of the train, which was travelling at 90mph at the time.
“The train driver had no opportunity to brake before hitting the debris,” said the statement.
“Fortunately, the train did not derail, and the driver applied the emergency brake. The train stopped after travelling a further 730 metres (800 yards). There were no injuries.”
RAIB said the train – the 16.34 from First Great Western from Paddington to Penzance was ‘heavily loaded’ when the accident occurred at 5.31pm on Sunday, February 22.
Around eleven minutes earlier, says the RAIB, the bridge parapet had been struck by a lorry.
“The lorry driver had turned off the A4 at a junction just north of the railway bridge, and crossed over the railway before encountering a canal bridge 40 metres further on which he considered to be too narrow for his vehicle.
“A pair of road signs located just south of the A4 junction warn vehicle drivers of a hump back bridge and double bends but there were no weight or width restriction signs.
“The lorry driver stopped before the canal bridge and attempted to reverse round a bend and back over the railway bridge without assistance, and was unaware when the rear of his trailer first made contact with, and then toppled, the brick parapet on the east side of the railway bridge.
“The entire parapet, weighing around 13 tonnes, fell onto the railway, obstructing both tracks. This was witnessed by a car driver who was travelling behind the lorry.
“The car driver left his vehicle to alert the lorry driver and he then contacted the emergency services by dialling 999 on his mobile phone at about 17:21 hrs.”
RAIB’s investigation will consider the sequence of events and factors that led to the accident.
The investigation will include a review of the adequacy of road signage and the overall response to the emergency call made by the motorist who witnessed the collapse of the bridge parapet. It will identify any safety lessons from the accident and post-accident response.
The investigation is independent of any investigations by the railway industry or safety authority.
