Two train firms fined £70k following derailment

Two rail companies have been fined a total of £70,000 in relation to the derailment of a passenger train outside West Sutton station in Surrey in 2001.

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (NRIL) and AMEC Rail Limited (ARL) received the fine at Southwark Crown Court following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident.

The accident, which occurred on the evening of 9 October 2001, saw the seventh coach of an eight coach Thameslink passenger train derail - despite travelling below the permitted line speed, which was 30 mph.

HSE's investigations revealed that the cause of the derailment was the condition of the track. At that time, Railtrack (now NRIL) was the infrastructure controller and ARL was the infrastructure maintenance controller for the area.

HSE inspector Steve Turner, who investigated the derailment, said: "This was a relatively low speed derailment which happily did not result in any injuries. The investigation revealed that the immediate cause of the derailment was 'gauge spread', that is when the track under the train widens and causes the train wheels to drop in between the rails.

"Both companies had a duty under the law to ensure that the track was inspected, maintained and repaired; all of which would have picked up this fault and prevented the derailment from happening. Network Rail's new arrangements for managing track maintenance should ensure that a similar incident is less likely to occur."

NRL and ARL each pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

NRIL, of Euston Square, London was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs to HSE of £12,500. ARL of Stephenson House, Cherry Orchard Road, Croyden, Surrey was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs to HSE of £17,500.

(MB)