The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its report into a train derailment at Roundham Heath in Norfolk.

On the 6th February 2024, a Class 158 was travelling around 83 mph when it struck two fallen trees, causing it to derail and travel for around 680 metres before coming to a stop.

One of the passengers on board suffered a minor injury but no other injuries were reported by staff or 30 other passengers onboard.

The train and railway infrastructure suffered damage and the line was closed for a day after the incident whilst repairs took place.

Two trees fell from part of a forest adjacent to the railway, which is owned and managed by Forest England.

The first tree, a pine tree, fell and landed on an adjacent oak tree and was found to have a loss of root anchorage due to being in saturated sandy soil.

Because of the way the tree had grown, it was more likely to fall onto the tracks if it fell. Inspections by both Forest England and Network Rail have not identified this cause for concern, so no action was taken, and this has been deemed to be an underlying factor in the derailment.

RAIB has made two recommendations, one addressed to Forestry England and one to Network Rail.

Both recommendations ask the respective organisations to review their processes for inspecting and managing trees that are within falling distance of the railway, to consider the effects of high soil saturation levels on the risk of trees falling, and to make any appropriate changes.