RAIB: annual report 2017 (published 2018)
Rail Accident Investigation Branch report for the operational period ending 31 December 2017.
Documents
Details
Watch our inspectors explain some of the themes highlighted in this year’s annual report.
Video: Reliance on signallers to ensure the safety of level crossing users
Video: Reliance on signallers to ensure the safety of level crossing users
Video: Failures of structures and earthworks
Video: Failures of structures and earthworks
Video: Safety of track workers
Video: Safety of track workers
Video: Fatigue
Video: Fatigue
During the period from 1 January to 31 December 2017, we received 260 notifications of railway accidents and incidents from the industry. These resulted in 50 preliminary examinations.
As a result of the analysis of the information gathered, we started 19 full investigations and 14 safety digests.
We completed and published 19 full investigation reports in 2017. While our aim is to publish reports and safety digests within 12 months of the date of occurrence, the length of individual investigations can sometimes extend beyond this because of the complexity and scale of the investigation, late notification by the industry or the need to address complex issues raised during formal consultation. In 2017 the average time taken to publish reports was 9.8 months from the date of occurrence (as compared to 10.7 months in 2016). The shortest time taken was 7.5 months and the longest 12.7 months.
We also issued two interim reports, 19 safety digests and three urgent safety advice notices.
Notes to editors
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The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
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RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.
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