• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

What determines RAIB involvement in incidents

Status
Not open for further replies.

Luke McDonnell

On Moderation
Joined
20 Mar 2019
Messages
144
Hi just curious to what is the criteria is to determine whether the RAIB gets involved in an investigation as I was thinking of the recent unfortunate fatality involving the police officer at Grantham and there does not appear to be any RAIB involvement in this case but in incidents involving track workers they often do get involved I would think the former case may possibly involve operational safety issues is it normally only if there is a possible safety issue with the infrastructure or rolling stock just curious I do find the RAIB to do a good job there reports are always detailed and through
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

ComUtoR

Established Member
Joined
13 Dec 2013
Messages
9,562
Location
UK
I believe there is a list of notifiable events that always have to be notified but they still don't always investigate those.

I think (not 100%). That there are caveats that if the incident is clear and everything is known then they don't investigate further.

Its listed somewhere and I'll have a look.
 

skyhigh

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
6,881
There is a clear guide online as to when RAIB should be notified of an incident:

1. A quick guide to notifying accidents and incidents on UK railways​

1.1 Always check whether notification should be under Schedule 1 before considering Schedules 2 or 3.​

Schedule 1 - Notify Immediately by telephone and follow up on form RAIBN1Schedule 2 - Notify in 3 working days in writing on Form RAIBN1 or equivalentSchedule 3 - Notify in bulk monthly in writing on Form RAIBN2 or equivalent
1(1) Deaths to staff, passengers, or members of the public, caused in accidents or incidents involving moving trains, or to staff closely associated with train operations. Except: deaths as a result of suicide, trespass, assault, natural causes. If in doubt notify2(1) Collisions with objects other than animals or items placed by vandals on railway or tram tracks, which would not otherwise have required reporting under any of the headings in Schedule 13(1) Failures of equipment at level crossings which reduces the level of safety on the railway and that are not notifiable under Schedule 1(9)
1(1) Serious injury to 2 or more staff, passengers, or members of the public, caused in accidents or incidents involving moving trains, or to staff closely associated with train operations. Except: serious injury caused by attempted suicide, trespass, assault. If in doubt notify2(2) Serious injury to one person on trains, trams, stations or other railway property if the event leading to the injury was connected with the operation of trains. Except: serious injury caused by attempted suicide, trespass, assault. If in doubt notify3(2) Broken rails or rails where pieces have broken off and buckled rails where the route has to be closed or a speed restriction put in place.
1(2) Level Crossing accidents involving death or serious injury to a person except suicide and trespass as above. If in doubt notify2(3) Incidents where road vehicles foul running lines or damage track3(3) Failures of structures on the railway (such as tunnels, cuttings, bridges, embankments, culverts, and stations), which reduce the level of safety on the railway and that are not notifiable under Schedule 1(9)
1(3) Collisions between rolling stock, other than in a siding, which cause damage to the vehicles involved2(4) Unintended divisions of any trains or trams while in service or being prepared for service3(4) Signalling failures which reduce the level of railway safety by affecting the ability of the system to detect or protect trains that are not notifiable under Schedule 1(9)
1(4) Derailments on lines open to traffic or which block running lines open to traffic2(5) Failures of axles, wheels or tyres3(5) Signals passed at danger unless the incident is notifiable under Schedule 1(9)
1(5) Collisions of rolling stock with buffer stops or other automatic stop devices, other than in a siding, which cause damage to the vehicles involved2(5) Train fires, severe electrical arcing or fusing3(6) Collisions between trams and road vehicles which are not notifiable under Schedule 1(1)
1(6) Release of, or fires involving, dangerous goods (including radioactive material) requiring an area to be evacuated2(6) Failures of ropes on cable hauled railways whose total length is greater than 1km-
1(7) Accidents or incidents leading to the closure of a route for more than 6 hours. NB: incidents do not include weather related matters--
1(8) Accidents causing in excess of 2m euros worth of damage to trains, infrastructure or environment. NB: this includes rolling stock which is written off, major track or structure damage or significant pollution incidents--
1(9) Accidents or incidents which could have led to deaths or serious injuries or 2m euros worth of damage to trains, infrastructure or environment, had the circumstances been slightly different. If in doubt notify--


RAIB will then decide if the incident requires an investigation.
 

norbitonflyer

Established Member
Joined
24 Mar 2020
Messages
5,772
Location
SW London
That seems clear. It would seem to fall under 1(1) unless the "trespass" exception applies. (Were the signalling staff made aware the police intended to go trackside?)
 

Bigfoot

Established Member
Joined
2 Dec 2013
Messages
1,423
Hi just curious to what is the criteria is to determine whether the RAIB gets involved in an investigation as I was thinking of the recent unfortunate fatality involving the police officer at Grantham and there does not appear to be any RAIB involvement in this case but in incidents involving track workers they often do get involved I would think the former case may possibly involve operational safety issues is it normally only if there is a possible safety issue with the infrastructure or rolling stock just curious I do find the RAIB to do a good job there reports are always detailed and through
RAIB were informed of the event and information passed to them. They may be still deciding if they should investigate and produce a report given the recent sad news.
 

ainsworth74

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Global Moderator
Joined
16 Nov 2009
Messages
31,109
Location
Redcar
RAIB were informed of the event and information passed to them. They may be still deciding if they should investigate and produce a report given the recent sad news.
I wouldn't be surprised if a safety digest resulted rather than necessarily a full report.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top