Bexley derailment

infobox UK rail accident
title= Bexley derailment
date= 4 February 1997
location= near Bexley
line = Dartford Loop Line
cause= Poor maintenance
Overloaded train
trains= 1
pax= 0 (freight train)
deaths= 0
injuries= 4The Bexley derailment was an accident on the British railway system which occurred in Bexley, south east London, United Kingdom on 4 February 1997 when an EWS freight train derailed near to Bexley station on the Dartford Loop Line.

Railtrack plc, SEIMCL and STRCL were each convicted of various offences under section 3 of the "Health & Safety at work etc. Act 1974" resulting in fines totalling £150,000 and £41,768 awarded to the Health and Safety Executive. In his sentencing remarks, the judge said that it "was merciful that nobody was killed although four people were injured". The Inspectorate report describes it as "fortunate" that nobody was killed.

The primary cause of the accident was found to be a combination of very poor track maintenance and an overloaded train. Although the train was travelling above the speed limit, it is unclear whether this was a factor of the accident.

Phrases such as:
* "Bridge timbers Very bad condition" (with "Very bad condition" underlined)
* "wheel timbers needs changing (urgently)"
* "Extremely rotten bridge timber requires urgent attention"
* "New 6 foot timber req. urgent twist on bridge, tie bars cannot be fitted - programmed urgent"
* "Timbers 7 and 10 - "Expired"were all reported within three months before the accident. Engineering works had been arranged since these comments and before the derailment but the work was not organised. The Inspectorate Report found that contractors were not carrying out their contracts adequately and that Railtrack was not assessing their contractors adequately.

The train was found to be overloaded because the inspection by EWS the previous night was done visually and not measured in any accurate way.

The train was found to have been speeding for two reasons:
* The driver had not been trained in the two-third rule so had considered the speed limit to be 60 mph instead of 40 mph. This was because the driver ordinarily drove passenger trains.
* The speedometer in the cab of the leading locomotive was recording an incorrect speed.

The train was a double-headed Class 37 train; the leading locomotive was 37167 and the second locomotive was 37220. The train was operating the 6Y56 from Three Bridges, Sussex to Hoo Junction, near Gravesend, Kent. The train consisted of 19 wagons. The two locomotives and the first 11 wagons were not derailed and did not sustain damage.

External links

* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=179&PHPSESSID=f30a2e7e76c00287e19bc213d2c7368d Railway Archives] - Railway accident at Bexley (Summary)
* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/HSE_Bexley1997.pdf?PHPSESSID=f30a2e7e76c00287e19bc213d2c7368d Railway Archives] - Railway accident at Bexley (Full report; PDF; 2 Mb)