RAIB: Potentially fatal power door issue on various stock

[sbt]

This is probably going to reach, or has reached, rail staff 'by the proper channels' but having just read it I thought it worthwhile to post it here so people get to know ASAP.

Its also of interest to passengers, like myself.

Short Summary: An issue with handling a faulty door nearly led to the Train Manager leaving the train at >100mph. It happened on a Pendolino but the issue applies to all stock with a similar door. Basically the door wasn't secure when the TM thought it was. Virgin have introduced new rules but other TOCs may not have, yet.

Link to Bulletin:

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/bulletins_2011/bulletin_06_2011.cfm

 

[spacehopper]

Heard about other incidents like this- guess main thing is to remember never touch a locked out door when the train is moving. Although this situation does seem rather complicated and rare bit like the rusted up contacts on a ATW 158 few years back.

 

[Schnellzug]

Some quite interesting information there, and in a rather refreshingly comprehensible fashion for a Government department.

On thing I found mildly remarkble, "During which the train ran from Wolverhampton to Euston, and then did a return trip to Glasgow, arriving back at Euston at 1740 hrs", and then went back at 1757? heavens, that's some quick turnrounds.

 

[WatcherZero]

Big maintence balls up combined with driver encountering a fault no one had ever seen before while being a bit nieve, attempting to lock something that was already locked and instead unlocking it.