RAILWAY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AFTER 2 WORKERS INJURED

An investigation has been launched by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch after 2 workers were injured on Island Line last month. During the early hours of Wednesday 22nd November, a road-rail vehicle (RRV) collided with a hand trolley which had been placed on the railway between Smallbrook Junction and Brading. At the time of the accident, the Island Line was under possession by Network Rail as part of maintenance work and was therefore closed to normal rail services. As a result of the collision, the hand trolley struck 2 track workers who were standing near to the railway. Both track workers sustained injuries which required hospital treatment, although the extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. No damage was caused to the RRV or to the trolley involved. The investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch – the RAIB – will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will also consider the actions of those involved and anything which may have influenced them, the management of the railway staff involved in the accident, the method of operation in use when the collision occurred and the policies and procedures in place for managing such operations, as well as any underlying management factors. It is unknown when the investigation report will be completed.