Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction (Hitchin) -- 11/12/25

[Jimini]

Saw this earlier:

[Withdrawn] Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction

Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 11 December 2025.

www.gov.uk

At 10:39 on 11 December 2025, train reporting number 1T20, the 10:12 London Kings Cross to Ely service, operated by Great Northern (a trading name of Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd), was involved in an overspeeding incident at Cambridge Junction.

At the junction, the train was routed from the Down Slow line over points for a diverging route. These points have a permanent speed restriction of 25 mph (40 km/h). CCTV evidence shows that the signals for this route displayed the expected indications; however, the train traversed the points at 56 mph (90 km/h). This caused the train to lurch sideways, with several passengers falling out of their seats as a result. The permissible speed for a train remaining on the Down Slow line is 75 mph (121 km/h).

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident and no damage was caused.

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into this incident. We have also reviewed the circumstances of two similar incidents which took place at Grantham South Junction on 25 February 2025 and 26 September 2025, as well as two previous RAIB investigations into overspeeding events that occurred at Spital Junction, Peterborough on 17 April 2022 (report 06/2023) and 4 May 2023 (report 10/2024).

As these previous investigations still have open recommendations, RAIB has decided to publish a safety digest for this incident.

 

[zwk500]

Saw this earlier:

[Withdrawn] Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction

Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 11 December 2025.

www.gov.uk

Another reason to get on with ETCS fitment, as the Speed Supervision inherent within Level 2 would have likely prevented such an incident.

 

[Purple Train]

Saw this earlier:

[Withdrawn] Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction

Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 11 December 2025.

www.gov.uk

Rather like Spital Junction, it took quite a lot of hard staring before I found the junction indicator in the forward-facing CCTV image provided by the RAIB. Assuming that I did find it! (It's the horizontal bar that looks like part of the canopy, right?)

 

[QueensCurve]

Saw this earlier:

[Withdrawn] Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction

Overspeeding at Cambridge Junction, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 11 December 2025.

www.gov.uk

The photograph in the RAIB web page appears to show the signal at danger and not set for the diverging route (although the swich rails are set for it). Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also why are trains still being routed that way and not via the flyover?

 

[Toby268]

The photograph in the RAIB web page appears to show the signal at danger and not set for the diverging route (although the swich rails are set for it). Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also why are trains still being routed that way and not via the flyover?

The signal is on the left under the station canopy is green with the banner repeater also showing the route across the junction. You are looking at the signal for the down fast line to the right.

 

[Kite159]

The photograph in the RAIB web page appears to show the signal at danger and not set for the diverging route (although the swich rails are set for it). Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also why are trains still being routed that way and not via the flyover?

Sometimes it's to allow a nonstop train to pass a stopping service, the stopper goes via the flyover with the fast going via the older flat crossing.

 

[edwin_m]

Rather like Spital Junction, it took quite a lot of hard staring before I found the junction indicator in the forward-facing CCTV image provided by the RAIB. Assuming that I did find it! (It's the horizontal bar that looks like part of the flyover, right?)

I think it's the horizontal white bar under the station canopy, above and to the right of the signal. The apparent gap in the white bar may be an artifact of the way LEDs and cameras work, like the way some videos show aspects flashing when they are steadily lit.

I presume this is indicating a route towards the Royston line, further to the right than a simple crossing to the Down Fast, and correct for this train if not using the flyover. There might be a risk of expecting the flyover route and getting the one over the crossovers instead, possibly exacerbated by sighting issues under the canopy.

Many years ago this signal had an odd arrangement with the indicator to the right of the aspect itself. Use of a multi-colour LED would appear to have allowed the aspect to be moved to a more conventional position lower down.

 

[MadMac]

Rather like Spital Junction, it took quite a lot of hard staring before I found the junction indicator in the forward-facing CCTV image provided by the RAIB. Assuming that I did find it! (It's the horizontal bar that looks like part of the flyover, right?)

It wasn’t just you. I could easily see that being mistaken for a fluorescent light on the station canopy.

 

[Intercity_225]

Why was the train on the down slow if it was non-stop to Cambridge?

 

[Purple Train]

I think it's the horizontal white bar under the station canopy, above and to the right of the signal. The apparent gap in the white bar may be an artifact of the way LEDs and cameras work, like the way some videos show aspects flashing when they are steadily lit.

I presume this is indicating a route towards the Royston line, further to the right than a simple crossing to the Down Fast, and correct for this train if not using the flyover. There might be a risk of expecting the flyover route and getting the one over the crossovers instead, possibly exacerbated by sighting issues under the canopy.

Many years ago this signal had an odd arrangement with the indicator to the right of the aspect itself. Use of a multi-colour LED would appear to have allowed the aspect to be moved to a more conventional position lower down.

It wasn’t just you. I could easily see that being mistaken for a fluorescent light on the station canopy.

Of course it's not the flyover, what was I thinking... edited accordingly.

I seem to remember some commentary on the quality of the CCTV camera (or lack of) versus what a driver would actually see (ignoring the "gap" commented on by edwin_m): how much of a difference would it make in this case, does anyone know?

 

[petergb]

Is this actually a new sort of junction indicator which lights up as a solid rectangle, rather than the traditional 5 white lights? It's hard to believe that camera or video artifacts would distort the appearance of 5 white lights to this extent; the lit area really looks like it has square corners.

 

[whoosh]

Rather like Spital Junction, it took quite a lot of hard staring before I found the junction indicator in the forward-facing CCTV image provided by the RAIB. Assuming that I did find it! (It's the horizontal bar that looks like part of the canopy, right?)

I think it's the horizontal white bar under the station canopy, above and to the right of the signal. The apparent gap in the white bar may be an artifact of the way LEDs and cameras work, like the way some videos show aspects flashing when they are steadily lit.

It is that, and the gap (about two fifth across) is an actual gap that is part of the design of this LED signal. It's not an artifact, it's an actual gap with no lights.

I presume this is indicating a route towards the Royston line, further to the right than a simple crossing to the Down Fast, and correct for this train if not using the flyover.

It is for the 'old way' towards Royston across the flat junction, yes.
It is unusual to be sent the 'old way' but does still happen from time to time. However, a train not stopping at Hitchin would normally be on the fast line, and (obviously) a train stopping would be at a stand at that signal on the slow line in the platform before moving off.
It is incredibly unusual to be non-stopping Hitchin,  and being put the 'old way' across the flat junction from the slow line. You'd be brought down to a red, but (if able) the signal will clear on approach - there's plenty of room from where this happens to gain speed before actually reaching the crossover.


I expect the investigation will focus on:

Whether the driver misread the signal, and didn't see the junction indicator (the broken horizontal white line);
Or,
Whether the driver did see it, but got mixed up as to the speed of the crossover.

I should also point out, that if on the fast line and routed via the flyover, you'd have a horizontal (number two position) junction indicator. This happens to be a mirror image of the signal shown (number five position - also horizontal, junction indicator), so there is the possibility of the driver believing in the moment, that he was going via the flyover (which is some way off 70mph points, then reduces shortly after to 50mph), as the signal looks <almost> the same as the one he'd usually get here, albeit on a different line.

So that's a third possibility.

 

[starlight73]

This is a photo of the down fast signal next to it— photo by Roger Carvell from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...signals_in_action_at_Hitchin._-_panoramio.jpg


Alt text: photograph of the down fast signal at Hitchin station with a Green aspect and right hand feather, the feather is a Rectangular light bar with a small gap from top to bottom

I also spent ages finding the location in an LNER cab ride. It’s at 21:27. But it’s too difficult to see the signals.

 

[Magdalia]

This is a photo of the down fast signal next to it— photo by Roger Carvell

These two signals were installed prior to the opening of the flyover in 2013, which required the addition of new feathers for the flyover route. When first installed they were numbered KX697 and KX699 but the numbers have changed since.

Is this actually a new sort of junction indicator which lights up as a solid rectangle, rather than the traditional 5 white lights?

The feathers are actually two adjacent rectangles of LED lights with a thin gap about halfway along. The old KX697 and KX699 signals removed in 2013 had the traditional 5 white lights.

It is incredibly unusual to be non-stopping Hitchin,  and being put the 'old way' across the flat junction from the slow line.

I agree that this is an incredibly unusual move.

 

[QueensCurve]

The signal is on the left under the station canopy is green with the banner repeater also showing the route across the junction. You are looking at the signal for the down fast line to the right.

Silly me. The signal at the intersection of thirds draws attention, the relevant signal doesn't!

Sometimes it's to allow a nonstop train to pass a stopping service, the stopper goes via the flyover with the fast going via the older flat crossing.

That fits.

 

[bramling]

These two signals were installed prior to the opening of the flyover in 2013, which required the addition of new feathers for the flyover route. When first installed they were numbered KX697 and KX699 but the numbers have changed since.


The feathers are actually two adjacent rectangles of LED lights with a thin gap about halfway along. The old KX697 and KX699 signals removed in 2013 had the traditional 5 white lights.


I agree that this is an incredibly unusual move.

It’s not clear why the train was on the down slow, however it appears to have been routed via the old route to overtake a Thameslink service.

It should be noted that whilst the junction indicator photographed isn’t the best, in “real life” it is a lot more conspicuous than the photo makes out.

From the info available, we don’t know whether the driver missed the junction indicator or misremembered the speed of the crossover, or neither.

 

[MarkyT]

It’s not clear why the train was on the down slow, however it appears to have been routed via the old route to overtake a Thameslink service.

It should be noted that whilst the junction indicator photographed isn’t the best, in “real life” it is a lot more conspicuous than the photo makes out.

From the info available, we don’t know whether the driver missed the junction indicator or misremembered the speed of the crossover, or neither.

It's highly unlikely the driver could 'forgot' they weren't on the fast line as usual, and the speed of the branch turnout from the fast, at 40mph, is also lower than that attained.

That suggests they knew very well they were on the slow, but perhaps thought they were taking the flyover route, which turns out from the slow at 70mph a little further north of the station, then falls to 50mph across the flyover itself.

Is there any possible confusion over junction indications at this location?

It's good to know that this extremely busy line will 'soon' have a full supervision ATP system as part of the ETCS rollout.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Clear view of the signal at a proceed aspect for a 700 routed to the flyover, clearest view at 6:41. It's an oddly positioned signal, quite low, and is a white bar not a standard five bulb feather. They also seem to have deliberately placed a black bar across the white bar, offset from the centre, almost as if they're trying to make it resemble the rear of a semaphore for some reason, which is nonsensical.

Also unusual, the feather for the crossover is horizontal rather than diagonal; there seems to be no reason for this to be horizontal rather than at diagonal.

 

[Sheridan]

Clear view of the signal at a proceed aspect for a 700 routed to the flyover, clearest view at 6:41. It's an oddly positioned signal, quite low, and is a white bar not a standard five bulb feather. They also seem to have deliberately placed a black bar across the white bar, offset from the centre, almost as if they're trying to make it resemble the rear of a semaphore for some reason, which is nonsensical.

I think the small gap is because of the modular design of the signal - the route indicator is formed of a central section above the signal head, with the six possible route indications being attached onto the central section. The gap is where the join is.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I would also note that when a fast Cambridge service approaches from the fast line to diverge to the flyover, the driver sees a horizontal white bar: as seen at 3:52 here:

So the driver will be used to approaching that junction, seeing a horizontal bar meaning diverge to the left. In this case he or she has approached on the adjacent line and seen a horizontal bar, which means exactly the opposite!

Why are these feathers not diagonal? The pointwork is not so complicated that there are more than two possible routes from each line: https://traksy.uk/live/M+19+HITCHIN

 

[Julia]

Also unusual, the feather for the crossover is horizontal rather than diagonal; there seems to be no reason for this to be horizontal rather than at diagonal.

There are two diverging routes to the right from the platform - the horizontal feather indicates the Cambridge branch, while a right-diagonal feather indicates crossing to the down fast.

Likewise, approaching on the down fast, the diagonal feather shows the down slow towards Arlesey, and the horizontal one the flyover.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I think the small gap is because of the modular design of the signal - the route indicator is formed of a central section above the signal head, with the six possible route indications being attached onto the central section. The gap is where the join is.

Makes sense!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2026 ==

There are two diverging routes to the right - the horizontal feather indicates the Cambridge branch, while a right-diagonal feather indicates crossing to the down fast.

That is fair, but it might explain why these feathers could have been misinterpreted.

 

[edwin_m]

That is fair, but it might explain why these feathers could have been misinterpreted.

From the Slow line, both the right diagonal and the right horizontal would have led over the 25mph crossover. Possible confusion is with the Slow line to flyover (left 45 degrees) or perhaps with the Fast line to flyover (also left horizontal but from the other signal which looks totally different).

 

[trentside]

RAIB mention the correct signalling sequence being shown on approach. Are flashing aspects used here?

 

[choochoochoo]

The gov.uk page says the RAIB have decided to publish a safety digest. Does this mean they already have or intend to once the findings are complete.

 

[trentside]

They will publish the safety digest once findings are complete.

 

[MarkyT]

RAIB mention the correct signalling sequence being shown on approach. Are flashing aspects used here?

I doubt there are flashing aspects for that move; more likely the route is approach released from red (AR). From the down fast to slow, or Royston via the flyover, it's more likely a flashing aspect approach applies (AY at the junction signal). Whether the train accelerated towards the junction after slowing for previous cautionary aspects (for various possible reasons) is important in understanding the events, as is visibility, interpretation and possible interruption of route indications on final approach.

 

[trentside]

I doubt there are flashing aspects for that move; more likely the route is approach released from red (AR). From the down fast to slow, or Royston via the flyover, it's more likely a flashing aspect approach applies (AY at the junction signal). Whether the train accelerated towards the junction after slowing for previous cautionary aspects (for various possible reasons) is important in understanding the events, as is visibility, interpretation and possible interruption of route indications on final approach.

Thanks. I’m not familiar with the layout at Hitchin, as it’s well off my route card. I’m sure like Spital Junction and Grantham it will be more content for future safety discussions.

 

[choochoochoo]

I think it’d be quite easy to think you’re being routed from fast to slow to flyover without checking the junction indicator which unusually showing position 5, thinking 56mph is easily controlled to get to the 50mph needed for the flyover.

Even easier if you didn’t sign north of Hitchin, and you need a 'feather' to go Cambridge. At least if you signed up to Peterborough too, then you might pay extra attention to where a 'feather' is sending you.

 

[philjo]

When the flyover opened a junction route indicator was also installed on the approach to Hitchin so the driver should have prior warning which route the train would be taking before the curve leading into the station.I think this was due to the curve preventing advance sight of the actual signal until the train approaches the station.