News story

Runaway engineering train at London Liverpool Street station

Runaway engineering train at London Liverpool Street station, 2 October 2022.

This news article was withdrawn on

This item has been moved to the National Archives as RAIB has published its safety digest describing this incident. See safety digest D08/2022.

The stopping point of the train (courtesy of Network Rail)

The stopping point of the train (courtesy of Network Rail)

At about 11:52 hrs on 2 October 2022, an unattended freight train ran away from platform 3 at London Liverpool Street station. The signaller was alerted to the train’s movement by track sections in the throat of the station showing occupied unexpectedly. The incident happened within a part of the station that was, at the time, under possession for engineering work. The unattended train travelled about 150 metres, before coming to a stop within the possession limits. No one was injured as a result of the incident, although a set of points which the train ran through were damaged.

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

The safety digest will be made available on our website in the next few weeks.

Published 20 October 2022