HSE publishes railway safety annual report 2001/2

HSE Press Release E240:02 - 18 December 2002

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) published its latest annual report on railway safety today. The report covers the safety record of Britain's railways in the year 1 April 2001-31 March 2002, describing the work of HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) and providing confirmed national incident and injury statistics plus analysis of safety issues.

Introducing the report, HSE's new Director of Rail Safety, Alan Osborne, said:

"Overall, this report confirms that the safety record of the railways continues to improve, with progress in a number of key areas. This is the first reporting period since 1998/99, for example, when there were no train incidents causing multiple fatalities.

"The Potters Bar derailment in May, in which seven people died, is a reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent. Nevertheless, there were improvements in 2001/02 - and these were against a significant rise in passenger and freight mileage. Fatalities (excluding trespassers and suicides) were down 18% - from 39 to 32; total injuries to passengers and staff were down 8% and total train incidents fell by 5%, from 1,801 to 1,704."

Other improvements detailed in the report include:

• a reduction in signals passed at danger (SPADs) on Railtrack infrastructure, from 475 to 436 (down 8%); and
• broken rails down by 23%, from 729 to 560.

Challenges still remain, however:

• 'route crime' continued to be a primary cause of train incidents, with 54% (921 of 1,704) due to vandalism and 58% of train fires (170 incidents) due to arson;
• deaths at level crossings rose from 9 in 2000/02 to 11; and
• four track workers were killed (up from two in 200/01).

Other key facts from the report include:

• 275 members of the public died as a result of trespass and suicide (down 25);
• three children died trespassing: down 7 and the lowest figure on record;
• HMRI carried out over 2,700 planned inspections and gave over 400 approvals of new works;
• 15 safety cases from new railway operators were submitted for assessment;
• HMRI staff rose from 145 in March 2001 to 186 in March 2002;
• Inspectors served 129 enforcement notices (including 24 prohibition notices). This was up 78 on 2000/01 and the largest number ever issued; and
• 13 prosecutions for breaches of health and safety law were concluded, with fines totalling £469,000 imposed.

"The year under review was not uneventful, either for the industry or HMRI", Mr Osborne said.

"In April 2001 memories of Hatfield and Great Heck were still fresh and there was a programme of inspection and rail renewal to complete; in June and September the Ladbroke Grove and Joint Train Protection Inquiries reported, ending a period of some uncertainty and enabling both HSE and the industry to focus on major work programmes. Railtrack PLC went into administration in October; and in December HMRI accepted London Underground Ltd's revised safety case."

"Looking forward, HSE will continue to meet public demand for firm action from an independent regulator. HMRI will also continue to work flexibly and responsively with stakeholders to enhance our role in rebuilding confidence in the railways as a safe and reliable means of transport. We have improved consultation processes with government partners and the creation of the new Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) will provide a focal point for discussions with industry. It is only through better co-operation, co-ordination and communication by all players that we will see improvements in prioritising and tackling the high risk areas."

'Railway safety: HSE's annual report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain' is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/railsafety0102.pdf

Notes to editors

The 140-page report is divided into three main parts:

Part 1

concentrates on the activities of HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI). It gives details of HMRI's major programmes during the year plus statistics on complaints investigated, enforcement notices served and prosecutions.

Part 2

deals with incidents, incident data and analysis, with details of train incidents, major investigations, incidents involving staff, passengers and other members of the public (including trespassers and suicides). The train protection strategy, SPAD investigations and TPWS fitment are discussed and there are separate chapters on level crossings; fires; infrastructure and rolling stock failures; underground railways; light rapid transit systems and minor railways.

Part 3

deals with the work of the Health & Safety Commission's Railway Industry Advisory Committee, research, international liaison and HMRI's work programme for 2002/3 and beyond. 11 Appendices provide national data on incidents and casualties, with selected statistics for Scotland and Wales.

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office