The Bedford collision, recovery process discussion.

Annetts key · 24 Jun 2026

AlterEgo said:
It's literally not what I said or implied. The point is that prior to tranches of significant legislation coming in, the railway had less of an impetus to look after the health and safety of the people who worked for it and used it. It does not imply negligence or lack of care. The reality is simple - fatal accidents were vastly more common 50 years ago, as were derailments, and this is why the railway had a much more ready in-house solution to attending accident scenes. They were more common for myriad reasons, but to claim the railway was impervious to the changing sands of legislation relating to health and safety is daft. In 1970 the railway had almost no responsibility at all for causing deaths of employees as it was governed by OSRPA 1963 which was extraordinarily weak when it came to actual industrial accidents and was superseded in law for good reason.

Don't invent what I said and then get offended at the made-up version. At no point did I ever say or imply BR "didn't care". It existed in a different time when there were different priorities and, for much of its existence, lower consequences for causing death or serious injury to people using it or working on it. That the Rule Book is written in blood does not equate to a slur on people who happened to work for BR.

Mile Post 13 said:
Strange then that it was only after Privatisation that I and others were taken to task for stopping trains or work on the grounds that it was not safe. My experience since is that "Managers" were quite happy to skirt around safety to achieve performance or financial targets.

The difference in safety culture was quite wide especially with the emerging Projects organisations

Safety on the railway did and still does depend on which department / company / division and what location / area / region that you work in.

As an example, in the area where I worked, the electricians (this was before OHL made it to our area) worked very safety when on the track, as they were very cautious. The S&T were fairly good (more so after a member of staff was killed, which resulted in new instructions to all S&T staff). But some of the P.Way teams, well...

Also, safety levels in our society in general has changed.

Within the railways, many a time, the comparison was made with the building trade for some reason. Where traditionally they were seen to have a poor safety record.

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Deepgreen · 25 Jun 2026

I imagine another element to the recovery process today as opposed to decades ago is the need for extra care to preserve evidence which may not have been done then. Trains are much more complex and delicate in many ways now, plus there are more analysis methods available now than then. All the little things add up. I can't imagine the unpleasantness of the task in this weather when having to wear safety clothing, etc.

Haywain · 25 Jun 2026

Deepgreen said:
I imagine another element to the recovery process today as opposed to decades ago is the need for extra care to preserve evidence which may not have been done then.

Indeed, and the fact that there are potential criminal offences now makes that more important. Years ago the emphasis was on finding out what happened and why, rather than seeing if there was someone responsible who might be subject to prosecution.

442Haz · 25 Jun 2026

Recovery here seems to be going very well which is great for the investigation timeline to continue at pace and also good for the restoration of the railway naturally which is a key priority here.

Back in the 80s at Clapham, it was exceptionally difficult due to access roads, but more so due to the crashworthiness of the old Mk1s, 2003 the REP at the head of the 12 car rake from Bournemouth was basically destroyed and lifting was only achievable after extensive flame cutting to separate sections of mangled twisted metal. The 360 as can be expected held up very well in comparison so thankfully we’re in a different world now compared to 1988.

edwin_m · 25 Jun 2026

Deepgreen said:
I imagine another element to the recovery process today as opposed to decades ago is the need for extra care to preserve evidence which may not have been done then.

They will be particularly interested in the structural crashworthiness of the trains, as this is essentially the first time the measures introduced in the 90s have been tested "in anger". Any further damage to the ends during recovery could compromise that.

Deepgreen · 25 Jun 2026

edwin_m said:
They will be particularly interested in the structural crashworthiness of the trains, as this is essentially the first time the measures introduced in the 90s have been tested "in anger". Any further damage to the ends during recovery could compromise that.

Yes, and from my views of the damage on photos, I can only imagine how earlier generation stock would have fared in a 50mph impact.

Trainman40083 · 25 Jun 2026

A couple of the recovered coaches were seen on the A6 south of Derby earlier.

CalderRail · 25 Jun 2026

Trainman40083 said:
A couple of the recovered coaches were seen on the A6 south of Derby earlier.

RAIB Labs are in Derby, aren't they?

Mile Post 13 · 25 Jun 2026

CalderRail said:
RAIB Labs are in Derby, aren't they?

Office in Derby but probably heading to the HSE laboratory at Buxton where they have all the necessary facilities plus are independent as well.

Trainman40083 · 25 Jun 2026

Mile Post 13 said:
Office in Derby but probably heading to the HSE laboratory at Buxton where they have all the necessary facilities plus are independent as well.

But would they be on the A6 south of Derby if they were going to Buxton? I'd have thought M6 , due to low bridges

800001 · 25 Jun 2026

Trainman40083 said:
But would they be on the A6 south of Derby if they were going to Buxton? I'd have thought M6 , due to low bridges

A6 connects with A50 that then connects ultimately with M6 doesn't it?
Anyway it's speculation on destination so far.

yorkie · 25 Jun 2026

Just a gentle reminder to stick to discussing the topic as described in the thread title please.

Any discussion of any spin-off matter, or indeed any other topic (such as climate resilience or a comparison of past approaches to health & safety) should be posted in a new thread (if there isn't one already) for the new topic.

Thanks.

tcm1106 · 25 Jun 2026

Mile Post 13 said:
Office in Derby but probably heading to the HSE laboratory at Buxton where they have all the necessary facilities plus are independent as well.

All heading to Litchurch Lane

Robin Edwards · 26 Jun 2026

tcm1106 said:
All heading to Litchurch Lane

I had wondered if the site at Cranfield University would have been involved

flitwickbeds · 26 Jun 2026

Any updates as to the current status of the site? I understand all train carriages have been removed into the field, then moved out of the field - so I assume there is nothing of the trains left on the tracks?

I think I read that there was a significant portion of tracks that needed to be replaced, and then presumably the OHLE checked.

I know the line was due to be shut over the weekend anyway due to engineering works - is it likely to be back up and running by Monday, albeit maybe with a temporary timetable to get stock back in the right places?

Twingo37175 · 26 Jun 2026

flitwickbeds said:
Any updates as to the current status of the site? I understand all train carriages have been removed into the field, then moved out of the field - so I assume there is nothing of the trains left on the tracks?

I think I read that there was a significant portion of tracks that needed to be replaced, and then presumably the OHLE checked.

I know the line was due to be shut over the weekend anyway due to engineering works - is it likely to be back up and running by Monday, albeit maybe with a temporary timetable to get stock back in the right places?

I believe they are aiming to get it open during today to at least get stock in the right place for Monday. I am advised there are 4 Thameslink units in Bedford as against a much higher number normally.

As you reference there are works this weekend and they will still happen keeping the line closed over the weekend, but I believe the aim maybe for normal service from Monday.

baz962 · 26 Jun 2026

Yes . A couple of EMR trains running.

swt_passenger · 26 Jun 2026

flitwickbeds said:
Any updates as to the current status of the site? I understand all train carriages have been removed into the field, then moved out of the field - so I assume there is nothing of the trains left on the tracks?

I think I read that there was a significant portion of tracks that needed to be replaced, and then presumably the OHLE checked.

I know the line was due to be shut over the weekend anyway due to engineering works - is it likely to be back up and running by Monday, albeit maybe with a temporary timetable to get stock back in the right places?

There’s a NR video from yesterday evening showing the track replacement progress and OHLE re-installation progress:

Six days on, we've now completed a full track renewal. Overhead line installation is underway, with one wire run complete and the second in progress as we work to safely reopen your railway as quickly and safely as possible.

Our latest update from Mark Budden.

He explains that they were waiting for the heat to die down to get on with certain work, but seems positive about overall progress.

Amos390 · 26 Jun 2026

Lines appear to have been handed back to the signaller now, all "-T3-", "****" and "BLOK" codes are gone, with DB 0Z66 (66011) and what might be a Thameslike 700 under 5Z00 passing over the affected area at the moment.

Edit: Can confirm 5Z00 is 700048, and appears to be shuttling up and down the affected area, now as 5Z01, presumably testing the OHLE

baz962 · 26 Jun 2026

Amos390 said:
Lines appear to have been handed back to the signaller now, all "-T3-", "****" and "BLOK" codes are gone, with DB 0Z66 (66011) and what might be a Thameslike 700 under 5Z00 passing over the affected area at the moment.

A couple of EMR trains are running today.

Bald Rick · 26 Jun 2026

AIUI The block is off, proving trains running now.

My guess is that the rail stressing was done last night, and would probably have been pretty easy in the small hours, no need to pull it!

brainiac_ghost · 26 Jun 2026

That really is some impressive work from RAIB and BTP (in terms of handing line back) and NR in fixing everything within a week, massive props to all involved

CharlieSpotted · 26 Jun 2026

That video is a great piece of communication - NR seems to be pretty good at this stuff - and the installation of a water 'cannon' for the teams working on site seems like such a good idea. Kudos to all of them that have put in the (very) hard hours on this.

liamf656 · 26 Jun 2026

1Z53 and 1Z59 are running south to London, to return as 1Z54 and 1Z63. Alllcated are 810016 and 810014 respectively

duffield · 26 Jun 2026

Thameslink now also running, 9T28 1228 Brighton to Bedford service nearly at Bedford.

AlterEgo · 26 Jun 2026

Amazing stuff really to get the line back open given the circumstances, and great expectation management from Network Rail.

800001 · 26 Jun 2026

Fantastic work under such gruelling temperatures.
Well done to all for the work they have undertaken.

jon0844 · 26 Jun 2026

Fantastic work given the level of work needed and the crazy heat and humidity.

Vexed · 26 Jun 2026

It's great to see how quick this has happened especially with the heat. I've been outside in full PPE myself this week and it's not pleasant with the heat and humidity.

ainsworth74 · 26 Jun 2026

Fantastic work by everyone to make this happen from a standing start and in gruelling conditions. I've said before and I'll say again that the fella fronting up for Network Rail has been tremendous with their updates. Clear and concise but still giving you plenty of information. Brilliant. Also a real poke in the eye to those dinosaurs that wang on about how "back in my day...", a reminder that the railway engineers of the 21st century are just a skilled, dedicated and hard-working as their forebears. Fantastic.

The Bedford collision, recovery process discussion.

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