The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is to investigate a derailment near Thetford, Norfolk.
On the 6th February 2024, an EMR Class 158 was travelling between Liverpool Lime Street and Norwich when it hit trees that had fallen from outside of the railway boundary.
The train was travelling at 83 mph when the collision occurred and caused the leading wheelset to derail.
The wheelset ran on the sleepers and ballast for around 680 metres before the train came to a stop after the driver applied his emergency brake.
31 passengers and 2 members of staff were onboard the train, with one passenger suffering a minor injury.
The RAIB have launched a full investigation into the incident and will consider:
- the arrangements in place to manage and control the risks from trees falling onto the railway from outside the railway boundary
- the structural crashworthiness performance of the cab during the collision
- the performance of the train in remaining aligned with the track while running derailed
- any underlying management factors.
