Operational incident following signal passed at danger

[Chris M]

The RAIB are investigating an "operational incident" that happened at Bethnal Green on 8 April 2018.

At around 22:09 hrs on 8 April 2018, a passenger train was stopped after passing a signal at danger. When it restarted, it proceeded towards a junction over which another train was passing, approximately 400 metres ahead of it.

Although it is not stated that this was a London Overground train, the photo is of an LO Class 315 which is described as similar to the unit involved.

www.gov.uk/government/news/operational-incident-following-signal-passed-at-danger-bethnal-green

[superteacher]

May 3, 2018 10:41:29 GMT goldenarrow said:

Going by the time, I'd hazard a guess that it was 2T28 (22:03 Liverpool St - Chingford) it would have left Bethnal at 22:06.

Maybe, but the service may not have been running to time, so we can’t be sure.

Usual forum rules apply regarding speculation.

[Chris M]

The RAIB have today released their safety digest regarding this incident
www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-digest-042018-bethnal-green/operational-incident-following-signal-passed-at-danger-bethnal-green-8-april-2018

The primary train involved was 2T26 the 21:48 from Liverpool Street to Chingford. It is described throughout the report as being operated by Arriva Rail London, this being the name of the current London Overground concessionaire.

[dmncf]

As a layperson I find it surprising that the signaller was able to set a route for train 2T33 onto a section of track that was already occupied by the 'SPAD train' 2T26. If I was one of the two train drivers I would be alarmed to see another train on the same section of track as me, and would have expected a call from the signaller to give me advance warning of this.

However the RAIB Safety Digest does not remark on this aspect.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2018 17:35:10 GMT dmncf said:

As a layperson I find it surprising that the signaller was able to set a route for train 2T33 onto a section of track that was already occupied by the 'SPAD train' 2T26. If I was one of the two train drivers I would be alarmed to see another train on the same section of track as me, and would have expected a call from the signaller to give me advance warning of this.

However the RAIB Safety Digest does not remark on this aspect.

Train 2T26 SPADed L93 signal from which no onward route was set (it was at danger after all). 2T26 stopped about 2 metres in advance of L93 signal. It would most certainly not have stopped on any track circuit controlling L112 signal. The overlap of L93 signal does not extend as far as Bethnal Green North Junction. 2T26 proceeded towards Bethnal Green North Junction without authority. It was most certainly not already occupying the route of 2T33 when L112 was cleared, rather it proceeded without authority towards the junction which 2T33 was traversing. Had the timings been different it might have occupied the same section of track as 2T33 but it most certainly was not already occupying a section of track over which 2T33 was routed at the time that the signal was cleared for it.