Derailment at Wickford - Friday 14th August 2026

[Nicholas Lewis]

It’s not cost cutting for cost cutting sake. We don’t need breakdown / recovery cranes everywhere now as it is so rare they are needed. I can’t remember a recent occasion (in the last 30 years) where there was a need for two of them concurrently.

The Kirow cranes handled the coaches at Lewes at quite a reach so much better to have a versatile crane like this that can earn its keep on engineering work and step in when incidents ocurr.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Kirow cranes handled the coaches at Lewes at quite a reach so much better to have a versatile crane like this that can earn its keep on engineering work and step in when incidents ocurr.

agreed.

 

[Haywain]

Accidents were investigated and reports produced.

Well, they were but there was not so much legislation involved so they weren't treated at crime scenes in the way they might be now.

 

[Kentish RYS]

Also possibly (and this is a guess) less information to collect by investigators?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Also possibly (and this is a guess) less information to collect by investigators?

Back in 1952 the Harrow enquiry took place using information provided by British Railways staff thus there was no on site investigations by the railway inspectorate. It maybe only at the instigation of RAIB that formal site investigations by staff independent of the railway industry personnel took place. Thus at Wickford or any other incident you have to wait until RAIB on call inspector attends attends site they will then have to call upon other specialists potentially. Thus depending on complexity of investigation requirements a period of time elapses before the site is handed over to NR. By comparison the Willesden breakdown crane was on site at Harrow 30 minutes after the accident took place but it was a vastly different railway back then of course.

 

[Newtraveller58]

I think, while it is true that there are lots of reasons why it takes much longer to recover from an incident such as this than it did in the past, the average passenger is only interested in when their train to work, college, friends family etc will operate normally again. In most transport, things have improved over the last half century whereas this aspect (at least) of railway operations has significantly worsened. In 1983 the Aberdeen/Inverness line was reopened in c36 hours after the Lhanbryde derailment which had a coach on its side and another derailed together with c 1/4 mile of track damaged.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

I think, while it is true that there are lots of reasons why it takes much longer to recover from an incident such as this than it did in the past, the average passenger is only interested in when their train to work, college, friends family etc will operate normally again. In most transport, things have improved over the last half century whereas this aspect (at least) of railway operations has significantly worsened. In 1983 the Aberdeen/Inverness line was reopened in c36 hours after the Lhanbryde derailment which had a coach on its side and another derailed together with c 1/4 mile of track damaged.

Back in the 80s and before, basically someone would appear on site, Walk around and say the train derailed, right guys lets get on with the clear up. Now you go the collection of every measurement known to man, did the driver sneeze at 3 or 4 of clock, where every passenger sat on the train etc. to come to basically the same conclusion. It's the nature of the 21st century world when an accident happens (you only have to look at road accidents now and how long roads are closed for accident investigation work, no longer is the hitting of the oncoming car the reason for the accident).