R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

on the network.These safety improvements will increase
production by enhancing separation and providing more
effective warnings of approaching trains.
Antisocial public behaviour incurs significant risk to the
network through level-crossing abuse, trespass and
vandalism.Our response is a combination of enhanced
physical controls and programmes to change behaviours
through education.
Following a systematic risk assessment of automatic
level crossings,a programme of works to improve their
safety performance to meet a Railway Group Safety Plan
objective will be completed by 31 March 2000.The residual
programme embraces about 80 level crossings.
The 1999/2000 Railway Group Safety Plan requires a
qualitative assessment of risk at all user-worked level
crossings to be completed by the end of December 2000.
The programme of necessary works is currently scheduled
for completion by 31 March 2004.The programme will be
reviewed in summer 1999 when the results of the early risk
assessments have been evaluated.
Some 60% of train accidents are attributed to malicious
action;accordingly, targeted initiatives to counter vandalism
are a high priority.We have developed action plans to
address known ‘black spots’to secure safety and
performance improvement. Enhanced physical controls and
educational initiatives to counter the linked issues of
vandalism and trespass will be implemented in 1999/2000.
We support the establishment of an independent
transport accident investigation body for all transpor t
modes.This body would interface with our Safety &
Standards Directorate (S&SD) and take over some of the
accident investigation duties from S&SD and those of HMRI,
the Railway branch of the HSE.Such a body would not only
give confidence that accidents were being impartially
investigated, but could look at all modes for good practice.
Sensible models can be found in a number of other EU
states,the Netherlands being the most recently established.
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Public accidental fatalities
1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Passenger train collisions and derailments
1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
Annual moving average
1999 objective
Year to date
Weighted annual moving average
Annual moving average
1992–97 year average
Year to date
Signals passed at danger
0
1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
Total annual moving average
SPADs with harmful consequences annual moving average
1995/96–1997/98 SPADs with harmful consequences avg.level
Year to date
We have developed
action plans to
address known
‘black spots’ to
secure safety and
performance
improvement
43