RAIB to investigate Greater Anglia train running onto a washed-out section of line

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have said they are to investigate the incident which took place on the 30th of January involving the 07:25 Norwich to Lowestoft service.

The Greater Anglia Norwich to Lowestoft service reached the area of washed-out track at 07:45 hours which was located between Reedham and Haddiscoe stations as supporting ballast and embankment had been washed out by water.

The stream of water was coming from the Haddiscoe New Cut waterway on the north-east side of the railway and coming right across the line and into the Haddiscoe Marshes.

As the train approached the wash-out area of track, the driver noticed what looked to be standing water on the line and began braking. The train was made up of three passenger vehicles and a power car and stopped with the front carriage above the flowing water. The next 20 minutes saw the flow of the water bring about the loss of support for the track with the track sinking substantially leaving the front carriage tilting both forwards and sideways.

The driver made an attempt to move the train backwards clear of the damaged section of track but was unable due to the angle of the front carriage.

The driver and guard evacuated five passengers off of the train and onto the track whilst a rescue train was organised to return them back to Reedham station.

Nobody was hurt during the incident and the train was removed later with no damage.

The washout has however caused damage to the track and the supporting formation which lead to the line being closed for a week whilst repairs were completed.

The incident happened after a significant tidal surge that obstructed drainage from the Broadland rivers which in turn raised the level of the Haddiscoe New Cut at the site of the accident leading to the water overspilling the flood defences. A Flood Warning had been issued by The Environment Agency for the area but water levels at Reedham and Haddiscoe were not predicted to be higher than the flood defences.

RAIB will investigate and seek to discover the sequence of events leading to the accident and will consider:

• The management of the flood defences in the area
• The adequacy of the flood warning systems used by the railway industry
• Network Rail's knowledge of the condition of assets external to the railway, such as flood defences, whose condition and management can affect the safety of the railway
• Any underlying factors.

RAIB's investigations are independent of any investigation undertaken by the railway industry or by the industry's regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.