Severn Tunnel rail accident
51°35′7″N 2°43′17″W / 51.58528°N 2.72139°W / 51.58528; -2.72139
Regional Railways
Class 155
On 7 December 1991, two trains collided inside the Severn Tunnel, between England and Wales. There were no fatalities but 185 passengers were injured.[1]
Accident
The 08:30 London Paddington to Cardiff Central operated by an InterCity 125 was stopped at a signal guarding the entrance to the Severn Tunnel. On telephoning the signalman according to Rule 55, the driver was advised of a signal failure and given permission to proceed slowly at caution. Three miles into the tunnel, the train was struck from behind by a Class 155 Sprinter travelling from Portsmouth to Cardiff. 185 passengers were injured, including five seriously, but none fatally.[1]
Because track circuits were unreliable in the unusually wet tunnel environment (10 to 20 million gallons of water are pumped out per day),[2] axle counters were used instead. The official report into the accident[2] could not reach a firm conclusion, but speculated that the cause was either:
- an unaccountable error on the part of the Sprinter driver, or:
- technicians in the relay room at Severn Tunnel Junction had reset the axle counter while investigating the earlier signal failure fault, thus clearing the signal for the Sprinter.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Stephen, Paul (7 December 2016). "Deep Impact". Rail. No. 815. Peterborough: Bauer Media. pp. 54–57. ISSN 0953-4563.
- ^ a b Seymour, R.J. Railway Accident in the Severn Tunnel. H.M. Railway Inspectorate.
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