Rail safety improves but 'key concerns' remain

Safety on the national rail network has generally improved over the past year, but track worker safety was a "key area of concern" as there were five staff deaths in 2002/03 and 17% increase in major injuries, according to a report out today.

Despite national rail network safety improving by 9% over the year, the Rail Safety and Standards Board's (RSSB) annual safety report found that there has been "no progress in improving workforce safety".

Passenger deaths due to accident increased to 15 – from seven in 2001/02 – with six people killed in the Potters Bar crash. There were also 193 major injuries to passengers, which represented a 9% reduction on last year’s figure.

The report also found that assaults on railway staff were up by a quarter.

The board noted that today's findings should be taken against the backdrop of the Potters Bar accident.

"This catastrophic event illustrates why the rail industry cannot become complacent and must continue to commit energy and resources to safety improvements," the report stated.

Positives in the review found that significant train accidents had reduced by 20% and the number of signals passed at danger (SPADs) fell to the lowest level ever recorded. Over the last 10 years the average number of train accidents per year leading to fatalities has reduced by 55%.

Bill Robinson, safety strategy and risk controller for RSSB, said: "Although Potters Bar casts a shadow over the year, it is clear that safety performance is improving in many areas. The challenge facing the industry is to maintain continuous improvement in health and safety in an increasingly difficult investment climate.

"Over the longer term the safety of Britain’s railways has continued to improve. The Rail Safety and Standards Board will continue to facilitate national initiatives to further improve safety for the workforce, passengers and the wider public."

RSSB was established in April 2003 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation owned by the railway industry. It is independent of any single railway company and their commercial interests, and has a members’ council, a board and an advisory committee.

(GMcG)