Ufton Nervet rail crash
Encyclopedia
The Ufton Nervet rail crash was a railway accident between a train and car near Ufton Nervet, Berkshire, England
that caused seven deaths.
17:35 service from London Paddington
to Plymouth
, a High Speed Train (HST)
led by a Class 43 power car
(43019), collided with a stationary vehicle
at an automatic level crossing close to the rural Berkshire
village of Ufton Nervet
. The inquest concluded that the accident was caused by Brian Drysdale, a chef at the nearby Wokefield Park Hotel, committing suicide by parking his car on the crossing.
The rear of the 220 metre long InterCity 125
train came to rest about 100 metres beyond the crossing with all eight coaches derailed. Six people were killed in the crash: the car's driver, the driver of the train, and four of its passengers. A fifth passenger subsequently died in hospital. About 200 people were on board at the time of the incident (official estimates are around 180–200). About half of these injured, 12 of them seriously. 11 people were cut free from the wreckage. The high structural integrity of the Mark 3
coaches prevented a much higher death toll, plus the fact that the more lightly loaded first class coaches were at the leading end of the train.
The accident, investigation and necessary repairs blocked the main railway route between London
and the West Country
until the morning of 16 November, subsequently operating under temporary speed restrictions to allow the bedding in of ballast
. In the meantime inter-city trains operated via and and local services were replaced by rail and bus shuttles.
, automatic half-barrier level crossings (AHBC) are used on roads where traffic is unlikely to queue across the crossing and where rail line-speed is not more than 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s). There are no means of checking that the crossing is not obstructed before the passage of a train. The half barriers close the road to traffic approaching the crossing but allow any trapped vehicle to escape. However, this allows road users to zig zag around the barriers and cross the line, usually in an attempt to save time.
and the British Transport Police
. A preliminary report by the Health and Safety Executive
indicated that the car stopped on the level crossing before any warnings and failed to react to the barrier alarm sequence. A minor deflection of the stationary car to one side by the train derailed the forward bogie
, which continued to travel at about 25°
to the rails until reaching the points
at the start of a loop
. At this point the power car derailed completely, causing the remainder of the train to derail.
In the absence of information from the investigation, local and news media speculation centred on the theory that Bryan Drysdale, the car's driver, might have parked on the level crossing in order to commit suicide
, because there was no evidence of any attempt to move or exit the car.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board
published a preliminary report on 1 February 2005 which stated:
On 1 June 2005 it was announced that an inquest into the crash would be held at the Guildhall in Windsor, Berkshire
. The inquest was expected to last 12 days, starting on 17 October 2005. It had been delayed due to a dispute over whether the families of the victims should be granted legal aid. The inquest finally began in October 2007. A policeman, PC Brazier, witnessed the crash and testified at the inquest. He told the jury
that he believed the crash was caused by a suicide attempt. The Forensic Accident Investigator, David Price, told the inquest that he had been able to determine that the car had been parked on the level crossing with its engine switched off, the handbrake fully applied, the vehicle's lights switched off, the steering on a partial left hand lock (which was not consistent with driving across the crossing), and that its fuel tank still contained at least 8 litres (about 2 gallons) of petrol.
On 1 November 2007 the inquest returned the verdict that the accident was caused by Brian Drysdale committing suicide.
A support network, the Ufton Nervet Train Crash Network was set up for survivors and relatives of the victims.
to the Bath Road (A4), about 300 metres from their junction. The crossing is between and stations. The train was not scheduled to stop at either station.
Position:
is investigating the cause, which may have been an error or omission by rail staff.
Ufton Nervet
Ufton Nervet is a village and civil parish about southwest of Reading, Berkshire, England.-Location:Ufton Nervet village is in hills south of the River Kennet, and its parish stretches down into the valley to the north as far as the A4 road. Two narrow lanes connect the village to the A4, crossing...
that caused seven deaths.
Collision
On 6 November 2004 at 18:12 GMT, the First Great WesternFirst Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
17:35 service from London Paddington
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
to Plymouth
Plymouth railway station
Plymouth railway station serves the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. It is situated on the northern edge of the city centre close to the North Cross roundabout...
, a High Speed Train (HST)
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
led by a Class 43 power car
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
(43019), collided with a stationary vehicle
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
at an automatic level crossing close to the rural Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
village of Ufton Nervet
Ufton Nervet
Ufton Nervet is a village and civil parish about southwest of Reading, Berkshire, England.-Location:Ufton Nervet village is in hills south of the River Kennet, and its parish stretches down into the valley to the north as far as the A4 road. Two narrow lanes connect the village to the A4, crossing...
. The inquest concluded that the accident was caused by Brian Drysdale, a chef at the nearby Wokefield Park Hotel, committing suicide by parking his car on the crossing.
The rear of the 220 metre long InterCity 125
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
train came to rest about 100 metres beyond the crossing with all eight coaches derailed. Six people were killed in the crash: the car's driver, the driver of the train, and four of its passengers. A fifth passenger subsequently died in hospital. About 200 people were on board at the time of the incident (official estimates are around 180–200). About half of these injured, 12 of them seriously. 11 people were cut free from the wreckage. The high structural integrity of the Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
coaches prevented a much higher death toll, plus the fact that the more lightly loaded first class coaches were at the leading end of the train.
The accident, investigation and necessary repairs blocked the main railway route between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
until the morning of 16 November, subsequently operating under temporary speed restrictions to allow the bedding in of ballast
Track ballast
Track ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...
. In the meantime inter-city trains operated via and and local services were replaced by rail and bus shuttles.
Background
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, automatic half-barrier level crossings (AHBC) are used on roads where traffic is unlikely to queue across the crossing and where rail line-speed is not more than 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s). There are no means of checking that the crossing is not obstructed before the passage of a train. The half barriers close the road to traffic approaching the crossing but allow any trapped vehicle to escape. However, this allows road users to zig zag around the barriers and cross the line, usually in an attempt to save time.
Investigation
An investigation was carried out by Thames Valley PoliceThames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police, formerly known as Thames Valley Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the Thames Valley area covered by the ceremonial counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire....
and the British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
. A preliminary report by the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
indicated that the car stopped on the level crossing before any warnings and failed to react to the barrier alarm sequence. A minor deflection of the stationary car to one side by the train derailed the forward bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
, which continued to travel at about 25°
Degree (angle)
A degree , usually denoted by ° , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1⁄360 of a full rotation; one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians...
to the rails until reaching the points
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
at the start of a loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
. At this point the power car derailed completely, causing the remainder of the train to derail.
In the absence of information from the investigation, local and news media speculation centred on the theory that Bryan Drysdale, the car's driver, might have parked on the level crossing in order to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, because there was no evidence of any attempt to move or exit the car.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board
Rail Safety and Standards Board
The Rail Safety and Standards Board is an independent not-for-profit company, which was established in 2003, upon the recommendation of the public inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash...
published a preliminary report on 1 February 2005 which stated:
- The automatic half-barrier equipment and its associated ancillary equipment is in good condition and properly maintained.
- The train driver shut off power and coasted for around four seconds, which was normal for this point in the journey. He then applied the emergency brakes at or about the time of impact with the car.
- All lighting was lost in all the coaches during the accident. As a result, passengers and crew found orientation difficult, though the provision of glow sticks alleviated this to some extent. Some passengers who attempted to break windows in order to escape from the vehicle were hampered by breakage of the window hammersEmergency hammerAn emergency hammer is a safety device used in vehicles to break through window glass in an emergency.It is a simple tool with a plastic handles and steel tip. Its primary use is for breaking through vehicle windows, which are often tempered, in the event of a crash which prevents exit through the...
, and by the difficulty of reaching the upper windows of a vehicle leaning heavily to one side. - No evidence has been presented that the maintenance condition of the train contributed in any way to the derailment or exacerbated its consequences.
- No evidence has been presented to the inquiry that would indicate there were any deficiencies in the fitness for duty on the part of the staff of either Network RailNetwork RailNetwork Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
or First Great WesternFirst Great WesternFirst Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
.
On 1 June 2005 it was announced that an inquest into the crash would be held at the Guildhall in Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. The inquest was expected to last 12 days, starting on 17 October 2005. It had been delayed due to a dispute over whether the families of the victims should be granted legal aid. The inquest finally began in October 2007. A policeman, PC Brazier, witnessed the crash and testified at the inquest. He told the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
that he believed the crash was caused by a suicide attempt. The Forensic Accident Investigator, David Price, told the inquest that he had been able to determine that the car had been parked on the level crossing with its engine switched off, the handbrake fully applied, the vehicle's lights switched off, the steering on a partial left hand lock (which was not consistent with driving across the crossing), and that its fuel tank still contained at least 8 litres (about 2 gallons) of petrol.
On 1 November 2007 the inquest returned the verdict that the accident was caused by Brian Drysdale committing suicide.
A support network, the Ufton Nervet Train Crash Network was set up for survivors and relatives of the victims.
List of the deceased
- Brian Drysdale, 48, of ReadingReading, BerkshireReading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(the car driver) - Louella Main, 9, of SpeenSpeen, BerkshireSpeen is a village and civil parish in the unitary district of West Berkshire and county of Berkshire, England. The parish is about north west of Newbury....
, BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(the daughter of Anjanette Rossi) - Stanley Martin, 54, of TorquayTorquayTorquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, DevonDevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
(the train driver) - Charlie Matthews, 72, of WarminsterWarminsterWarminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, WiltshireWiltshireWiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... - Anjanette Rossi, 38, of SpeenSpeen, BerkshireSpeen is a village and civil parish in the unitary district of West Berkshire and county of Berkshire, England. The parish is about north west of Newbury....
, BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(the mother of Louella Main) - Barry Strevens, 55, of WellsWellsWells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
, SomersetSomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the... - Emily Webster, 14, of Doccombe, DevonDevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
Location
The accident occurred at a level crossing on the narrow lane linking the village of Ufton NervetUfton Nervet
Ufton Nervet is a village and civil parish about southwest of Reading, Berkshire, England.-Location:Ufton Nervet village is in hills south of the River Kennet, and its parish stretches down into the valley to the north as far as the A4 road. Two narrow lanes connect the village to the A4, crossing...
to the Bath Road (A4), about 300 metres from their junction. The crossing is between and stations. The train was not scheduled to stop at either station.
Position:
2011 near miss
A near miss occurred at the same level crossing on 4 September 2011. The Rail Accident Investigation BranchRail Accident Investigation Branch
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is a government agency that became operational on 17 October 2005. Its primary role is the investigation of rail accidents in the United Kingdom and the Channel Tunnel in order to find a cause, not to lay blame. The agency has operational centres in The...
is investigating the cause, which may have been an error or omission by rail staff.
See also
- List of British rail accidents
- Glendale train crashGlendale train crashThe 2005 Glendale train crash is the second deadliest incident in the history of Metrolink, the commuter railroad in the Los Angeles, California, area. It was overtaken as the deadliest by the 2008 Chatsworth train collision.On January 26, 2005, at 6:03 a.m...
- a crash in January 2005 on the Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
commuter rail system in similar circumstances.