A train driver died at Tyseley Depot (December 2019)

[Tazi Hupefi]

Details just through on the BBC now:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-50801443

BBC News - Train driver dies in 'serious incident' at Tyseley Depot

The man was injured at about 20:30 GMT at Tyseley Depot, with emergency services attending.

The death will be investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, a West Midlands Trains spokesman said.

Very, very sad.

 

[LowLevel]

Absolutely gutted for my colleagues in the West Midlands and further afield - the person in question was a very well respected railwayman by all accounts with many years service. A lot of shocked faces here from former colleagues at Central Trains and BR. RIP

 

[Sprinter107]

A lovely man, who I worked with many times.

 

[Ticket Monster]

Absolutely gutted. One of the nicest guys at the depot - he was looking forward to retirement. He's going to be missed.

 

[43066]

I’m very sorry indeed to read about this. Condolences to this gentleman’s friends and family.

I’m very glad there is going to be a full investigation into the circumstances.

 

[2L70]

Sad news, thoughts with everyone at New Street.

 

[O L Leigh]

Not a good thing to come to work and hear. Thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues at New Street and further afield. Thought also with the Tyseley depot staff and all others directly involved.

 

[HLE]

Rest in peace sir.

Horrible way to go. Thoughts with all concerned.

 

[snookertam]

That's awful news. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

 

[snookertam]

Rest in peace sir.

Horrible way to go.

I don't think the details are public knowledge so I'm not sure posting anything based on speculation about what happened there is a good idea.

 

[HLE]

I don't think the details are public knowledge so I'm not sure posting anything based on speculation about what happened there is a good idea.

It's not based on speculation, however I have no intention whatsoever of posting what's happened, on this site.

 

[pompeyfan]

I’m sure RAIB will reveal the relevant details. It’s terrible that someone went to work and never came home.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Devasting news and a reminder about the risks railway employees face everyday. As an ex-police officer I've seen my fair share of fallen colleagues over the years and everyone who knew this gentleman will be going through their own grief at this time. Very sad. RIP

 

[w0033944]

Very sad. Just shows that, despite the perception of H&S as being OTT, in many workplaces, it's vital.

 

[Edders23]

Very sad. Just shows that, despite the perception of H&S as being OTT, in many workplaces, it's vital.

Sadly we are all human and no amount of H & S training can make up for that. Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone it's very sad especially at this time of year for the family but always has been and always will be a factor in many professions

 

[theironroad]

Condolences to the driver's family and friends and to all their colleagues. Will make for a sombre mess room.

I don't know any details, but sounds like a reminder that the operational railway can be a risky place to work at times.

Take care out there everyone. Stay safe.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Sadly we are all human and no amount of H & S training can make up for that. Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone

I don't agree. From the ORR data portal:
"2018-19 is the twelfth year in a row with no passenger fatalities as a result of a train accident."

Ie we no longer think it's normal for a small number of passengers to die in train crashes, although we used to. There's no reason we cannot achieve the same result for railway workers, we need to continuously improve systems that account for human fallibility.

Sincere condolences, the above is of course no comfort to the family of someone who has left home to do a day's work and won't come home.

 

[GB]

Probably not the right place for this discussion but luck has played a huge part in the zero passenger fatalities statistics I would say.

 

[Ianno87]

I don't agree. From the ORR data portal:
"2018-19 is the twelfth year in a row with no passenger fatalities as a result of a train accident."

Ie we no longer think it's normal for a small number of passengers to die in train crashes, although we used to. There's no reason we cannot achieve the same result for railway workers, we need to continuously improve systems that account for human fallibility.

Sincere condolences, the above is of course no comfort to the family of someone who has left home to do a day's work and won't come home.

It's notable that even fatal accidents to railway workers, be it this one or the Margam trackworkers, are now sufficiently rare that even they make headline news - that would not have been the case even a few years ago. That's what a relentless focus on good H&S practice brings.

Doesn't make this incident any less tragic, of course.

 

[theironroad]

Can we not leave h&s policies and statistics to another thread?

For those of us who work on the frontline and could possibly have been in this driver's shoes, this is pretty close to home and raw.

 

[3141]

Probably not the right place for this discussion but luck has played a huge part in the zero passenger fatalities statistics I would say.

That's an interesting statement, and if you can find a relevant thread, or start a new one, I'd like to follow the discussion.

 

[Chris M]

Health & safety as a concept is unquestionably a good thing, but actions taken to ensure it have to be relevant to the danger (a hard hat will not protect you from a tripping hazard for example) and if you want people to actually do the job safely the protection measures must be necessary, reasonable and proportionate (and understood to be all of those things) and must allow the job to be done. I have no idea of what happened in this incident, but the cause is almost certain to be one or more of (a) a hazard was not appreciated and so not protected against, (b) the protection measures were insufficient, or (c) the protection measures were not followed (correctly and/or completely). If it was (c) then it is not enough to just say to staff "you really must do this", it must be understood why the measures weren't followed.

That's an interesting statement, and if you can find a relevant thread, or start a new one, I'd like to follow the discussion.

Me too.

 

[RichT54]

The RAIB has announced their investigation into the accident.

At about 20:00 hrs on 14 December 2019, a train driver, who had just got off a train they had brought into the depot, was fatally injured while passing between two trains that were being coupled together on an adjacent line.

Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the accident. It will also consider any factors relevant to the method of working within the depot and any relevant underlying factors.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fatal-accident-at-tyseley-depot

 

[superjohn]

RAIB safety advice has now been published:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ary-rail-vehicles-in-depots-yards-and-sidings

An extract:
“At around 20:00 hrs on 14 December 2019, a train driver suffered fatal injuries while passing between two trains at Tyseley traction maintenance depot, Birmingham.

Prior to the accident occurring, the driver involved had brought an empty train into the depot. Once this train had been shut-down, the driver alighted from its cab and crossed the depot yard. This consists of a number of sidings, one of which had two stationary trains positioned closely together on it. The driver tried to pass between these trains as he crossed the yard. A later reconstruction undertaken by the RAIB suggests that there was a gap of approximately 540 mm between the gangway ends of these trains.

A second driver was in the cab of one of the trains, next to the gap. As the first driver was passing between the trains, this second driver attempted to couple them together, trapping the first driver. The RAIB’s reconstruction showed that the second driver would not have been able to see the first driver as he crossed the yard and entered the gap between the trains.”

 

[Mag_seven]

The final RAIB Report has just been published:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/924089/R092020_201007_Tyseley.pdf

At around 20:00 hrs on Saturday 14 December 2019, a train driver became trapped
between two trains in the yard at Tyseley maintenance depot, Birmingham. The driver
received fatal injuries as a result.

The driver became trapped because he was passing between two closely-spaced
trains when one of the trains was moved towards the other as part of a coupling
operation. The driver had not used a safe route when he was walking within the yard,
and almost certainly did not expect that the trains would move as he passed between
them. Another driver, who was attempting to couple the trains, was unaware that
anyone else was close to them. He did not sound a warning prior to coupling because
local instructions did not require this.

 

[GB]

Not nice reading at all!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Not nice reading at all!

I imagine that was a horrible circumstance to be involved in. As with any tragedy let’s hope some good comes from it in terms of improved processes and understanding of the risks.

 

[357]

I feel terrible for the driver and the family, however I also feel really bad for "Driver B" - there's nothing he could have done.

 

[alexl92]

I feel terrible for the driver and the family, however I also feel really bad for "Driver B" - there's nothing he could have done.

This was my thought too. Driver B may well feel horribly guilty over the incident but it really is not his fault at all.

 

[Elecman]

I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the RSSB removing the obviou# safety rule from the Rulebook, that particular rule was hammered into me when I first started