Wrong side signalling failure at Wingfield
Investigation into a wrong side signalling failure at Wingfield, Derbyshire, 26 October 2022.
Signal DY586 and its signalling location cabinet.
At about 07:02 hrs on 26 October 2022, an empty coaching stock train was travelling on the down main line between Derby and Chesterfield on signals showing green proceed aspects, when it unexpectedly encountered a signal in the South Wingfield area displaying a red danger aspect. As the train was approaching the signal at 110 mph (177 km/h), it was unable to stop before the signal and passed it by about 760 metres. The driver called the signaller straight away to report the incident.
The signaller contacted the driver of the following passenger train on the down main line at 07:07 hrs, not long after this train had departed from Belper. The signaller instructed the driver of this train to proceed at a reduced speed due to the train ahead of it passing a signal at danger. At about 07:19 hrs, the train approached the signal that the previous train had passed at red. The signal was now displaying a yellow caution aspect. After passing the signal at a speed of about 20 mph (32 km/h), the driver of this following train saw the taillights of the first train, which was stationary ahead of it. He brought his train to a controlled stop, with the trains coming to stand about 75 metres apart in the same signal section.
The signal which was passed at red had been disconnected and reconnected the previous night as part of planned track maintenance work. Evidence available to RAIB is that it had been placed back into service after the work with a fault. This caused a wrong side failure, with the signal’s red and yellow aspects being displayed incorrectly.
After carrying out a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident, RAIB initially decided to publish a safety digest. Having assessed further evidence which has come to light since this decision, RAIB has now decided to carry out an investigation. Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the wrong side failure of the signal. It will include consideration of the roles, responsibilities and competence management of the staff involved, the factors that influenced their actions and the testing processes followed for the planned overnight work to the signalling equipment. It will also consider any underlying management factors, including the rail industry response to RAIB’s recommendations made its Cardiff East Junction (RAIB report 15/2017) and Waterloo (RAIB report 19/2018) investigations.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.
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Last updated 21 December 2022 + show all updates
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On 11 November RAIB announced that it was writing a safety digest into a wrong side signalling failure at South Wingfield, 26 October 2022. Having assessed further evidence which has come to light since this decision was taken, RAIB has now decided to carry out an investigation into this incident.
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First published.