Evacuated train passengers could have been killed by live electric rail – report

Rail passengers could have been killed after being ordered to evacuate a train close to an electrically live line, an official report has found.

Miscommunication between the driver of the London Overground train and control room staff resulted in 80 people being asked to walk down steps just 30cm from the third rail, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

Elderly passengers and children were among those who faced dark, wet and slippery conditions as they had to walk 30 metres alongside the live rail to Peckham Rye station, south-east London.

An operations manager from Govia Thameslink Railway – which manages the station – became aware of what was happening and told the driver to stop the evacuation, 11 minutes after it began.

The rest of the 450 passengers were told to remain on the train, which was eventually able to move forward into the station.

The RAIB concluded that the incident at around 7pm on November 7 last year “could have resulted in an injury or fatality”.

Passengers’ desire to post photographs of their experience on social media increased the danger even further, as one person “was oblivious to the risk and crossed the live rail to obtain a better image”.

The train initially came to a standstill when the driver was unable to release its brakes, which had been activated due to a faulty component.

He ordered the evacuation after being given instructions by control room staff who had misunderstood the location of the train, believing it to be at least partially next to the station platform.

A delay in reaching a clear understanding about what should be done “contributed to stress and task overload of the driver, which affected his decision making”, the RAIB found.

Investigators noted that his only practical guidance on evacuation procedures had taken place in 2008 during his initial training.

The RAIB made three safety recommendations directed to Arriva Rail London – which operates London Overground services – and rail infrastructure manager Network Rail.

These are intended to improve their response to train failures and other abnormal events.

Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents, said: “Misunderstandings and confusion resulted in passengers being told to leave the safety of a train, climb down vertical steps above a live electric rail, and walk in darkness along an overgrown path to a station.

“About eighty people went through this before the evacuation was stopped, and it is very fortunate that no-one was hurt.”