Clapham Junction rail crash
The railway accident at Clapham Junction on 12 December 1988 at Clapham Junction station in London's Battersea was caused by an incorrectly wired signal. In him three trains were involved. 35 people died and 500 were also injured.
Starting position
Prior to the railway station Clapham Junction, the four-track railway line runs here in a terrain incision that is intercepted directly on the tracks by retaining walls and was backed up by a fence.
Where several weeks were performed on the signal before the accident systems work. These were urgently needed because the installations were completely outdated and had already given it to 1984 here three incidents in which the signal system had failed. The corresponding parts of the tram were under considerable pressure to carry out the work in a number of places on the net quickly. This new cables were laid in the area of the later scene of the accident, but the old cable was not accidentally removed. The functional test was performed on a weekend in voluntary overtime of the railroaders. The technician that caused the error, was for thirteen weeks in a seven-day week in use. An examination of the new installation by an independent third party did not take place. The error has been overlooked in the final exam.
On 12 December 1988 moved against 8:10 clock in the morning rush more heavily infested trains on the subsequent accident site to:
- A train from Basingstoke to London Waterloo, a highly busy commuter train made up of three four-membered Electric Railcar of the series 423
- He was followed by another train, which was formed from a railcar of the series 423 and two of the series 438.
- A third train was followed in the block distance.
- In the opposite direction, an empty passenger train was traveling.
Circumstances of the accident
On the day before the accident equipment was rearranged in the field of signal conditioning. The old, not dismantled cables were shifted so that a short circuit was created, which prevented the decisive signal " stop" showed when the stretch in front of him was occupied.
The driver of the train from Basingstoke showed in the approach to the Clapham Junction Railway Station a signal " ride free". As he approached the signal, it jumped to "stop " order. The stopping distance was too short to stop before the signal. The train came so only before the next signal to a halt. From there, he telephoned over the telephone line to the signal box and was told that no signal interference vorliege. At this moment the following train ran on to the from Basingstoke. The still telefonierende driver informed the interlocking quasi "live " by the accident. The staff in the switchboard put all signals to which he had access, immediately to "stop " and informed the adjacent operating points. However, he could take no access to the automatic signaling. Then he called the station master and asked him to alert the emergency services.
Immediately afterwards the empty train passed the accident site on the adjacent track, projected into the ruins of the previous accident, and collided with them. The first two trains following another train showed the signal 'expect slow travel ". Since the current rail was damaged in the accident and led no more tension, he rolled only at reduced speed. When the driver saw the accident scene, he could not brake in time, without drive into it.
Follow
35 people died and 500 were also injured. Students and teachers a neighboring school were the first to reach the scene of the accident and performed first aid. They were for it later honored by the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. The rescue operations were difficult because of the fence and retaining walls in the grounds incision. It took up to 16 clock before the last body was recovered.
The official commission of inquiry chaired by Anthony Hidden QC, the Ministry of Transport recommended to perform safety-related work on the railway infrastructure under the supervision of a responsible project officer and be inspected by an independent third party. She noted that the technical staff had been inadequately trained, selected, monitored and reviewed. Signal malfunctions should be reported in the future of the railway supervisory authority. The introduction of train radio and speaker systems on the trains were recommended.
The fact that the technician who had caused the error was in a seven-day week for thirteen weeks in use, has been criticized in the official investigation report as gross deficiency in the work safety of British Rail. British Rail was it imposed a fine of £ 250,000.
The railway accident at Clapham Junction was one of the reasons that the Advisory Council on Legislation ( Law Commission ) for England and Wales in 1996 recommended in criminal law the crime of manslaughter by legal persons (Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide ) introduce, which was done in 2007.
At the top of the incision site, in which runs the railway line, a memorial stone was erected at the accident at the Windmill Road in Spencer Park.