'Runaway train' on London Underground

[GB]

Is there no fail-safe to prevent this sort of scenario happening on the LU network?

How fast was the dead train being hauled before it split?

 

[Gavelex]

Using an emergency couple it should be 5MPH, although if this speed was exceeded to reduce delay to passenger services remains to be seen in the RAIB report.

 

[DavyCrocket]

The rail grinder was being pulled northbound by a 95 stock train on the southbound line (under a Wrong Direction Move), this would involve the tripcocks to be cut out (if indeed one is fitted to the rail grinder). It is understood that the grinder and the passenger train in front of it were less than a minute apart at one point.
An Operational Standards Notice regarding trains without brakes today.

 

[daikilo]

The rail grinder was being pulled northbound by a 95 stock train on the southbound line (under a Wrong Direction Move), this would involve the tripcocks to be cut out (if indeed one is fitted to the rail grinder). It is understood that the grinder and the passenger train in front of it were less than a minute apart at one point.
An Operational Standards Notice regarding trains without brakes today.

Too much detail here given the enquiry. You are right that rules apply.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Too much detail here given the enquiry. You are right that rules apply.

How is that too much detail? He's quoting the rule book.

 

[ukrob]

Too much detail here given the enquiry. You are right that rules apply.

No it isn't.

That is all information which is publicly available, whether to the general public, or to rail staff.

 

[At_traction]

The rail grinder was being pulled northbound by a 95 stock train on the southbound line (under a Wrong Direction Move), this would involve the tripcocks to be cut out (if indeed one is fitted to the rail grinder). It is understood that the grinder and the passenger train in front of it were less than a minute apart at one point.
An Operational Standards Notice regarding trains without brakes today.

Where is the nearest crossover point to the "proper" northbound track at Archway (or Highgate, for that matter)? Or is that too much public information?

 

[petergb]

There's a reversing siding between the running tracks a little to the north of Archway station (at least there was, back in the '70s and '80s when a much younger version of me used to be mad keen on the LT network as a hobby)

Archway (NN if memory serves) used to be one of my favourite haunts as the signal cabin had just enough of a window to peer through and see the levers moving "by themselves"; every other train would terminate at Archway and reverse using that siding. Sorry, I do not recall whether the move from SB platform to the siding actually had a banner/disc signal controlling it. The normal movements at the time were NB platform into siding; followed by siding to SB platform. Anyway it might well be a bit different nowadays.

the grinder and the passenger train in front of it were less than a minute apart at one point

yup, that would make perfect sense, the reversing siding's not too far away from the station. Horrible situation for the driver of the passenger train - I'll bet the doors slammed shut and he took off like the clappers...

(hope that's not too much detail; after all, I am merely a member of the public, albeit a sometime tubefan)

best wishes, Peter.

 

[Old Timer]

Here is the best description of what happened that is available so far.

The train consisted of a self-propelled diesel-powered unit designed for re-profiling worn rails.

It had been working between Highgate and Archway stations on the southbound line during the night of 12/13 August. At the end of grinding operations that night, the crew of the unit found that they were unable to restart its engine to travel away from the site of work.

An assisting train, consisting of a six-car train of the 1995 stock used for passenger services on the Northern line, was sent to the rescue of the grinding unit.

The assisting train was coupled to the grinding unit by means of an emergency coupling device, and the braking system of the grinding unit was de-activated to allow it to be towed.

The combined trains then set out to run to East Finchley station.

At about 06:44 hrs, after passing through Highgate station, the coupling device failed and the grinding unit began to run back down the gradient towards central London.

The crew of the grinding unit, who had no means of re-applying the brake, jumped off the unit as it passed through Highgate station.

It then ran unattended for about four miles, passing through a further six stations, and came to rest near Warren Street station about thirteen minutes later. No-one was hurt.

There was some damage to the grinding unit, and points at Mornington Crescent station were damaged when the unit ran through them.

LUL control room staff took action to clear trains away from the path of the runaway unit.

 

[yorkie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11016085

Video showing how close a runaway London Underground train was to a full passenger train in front of it has been leaked to BBC London.

The footage of a control room monitor appears to show the runaway engineering train close behind the other vehicle as they pass Kentish Town.

A highly-placed source said the two trains were just 49 seconds apart during the incident on Friday morning.

Transport for London has said safety is its top priority.

The engineering train went through six stops on its 13-minute, four mile journey after becoming detached on the Northern Line.

Other trains were cleared out of its path, while passengers travelling in the train ahead were told to go to the front of the vehicle.


No brakes

An incline in the track finally brought the engineering train to a halt.
Now BBC London has been told the vehicle had no brakes.

And a leaked report reveals the driver of the engineering train jumped clear at Highgate Tube, while a platform at Camden Town station was evacuated.
A full investigation has already been launched into the incident.

The Rail Accident Investigation Bureau (RAIB) said it could not say how long it expected the investigation to take.


A TfL spokesman said: "Safety is our top priority and the events surrounding the incident last Friday remain under investigation.

"We would not wish to pre-empt the outcome of our investigation but once all of the facts have been verified we will publish the report, making all of its conclusions clear.

"We once again pay tribute to our quick-thinking line control staff who acted swiftly to ensure that any risk to customers and staff was minimised."

The video has been speeded up a lot (assuming it is real and not a simulation!)

 

[Daniel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11016085
The video has been speeded up a lot (assuming it is real and not a simulation!)

The replayer can be sped-up whilst you're viewing it, (up to 20 times IIRC)

 

[DavyCrocket]

The replayer can be sped-up whilst you're viewing it, (up to 20 times IIRC)

Yeah 20 times.

More detail can be added such as Track Circuit names.

As an aside, the Trackernet, must not be used for making safety critical decisions.

 

[Controller1]

The points being thrown at Mornington Crescent station by the control room slowed the train down. The train jumped the points remarkably...