Speeding train left onboard staff hurt - report

Staff onboard a train were left hurt after it travelled through a junction near a market town at more than twice the speed limit, investigators found.

An LNER train service travelled at about 55mph (87km/h) through Grantham South Junction, in Lincolnshire, where a speed restriction of 25mph (40km/h) was in place, the Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB) said.

While staff onboard reported receiving minor injuries during the incident on 25 February, no passengers were injured, investigators had noted.

Train operator LNER said it had supported RAIB's findings and the safety of its staff and passengers was its "top priority".

The train, which was travelling from Hull to London Kings Cross, had stopped at Grantham station before passing through the junction at about 08:25 GMT.

After leaving the station, a signal warned the driver the train was switching to a slower railway line.

In its findings, the RAIB said there was a "strong likelihood" factors in this case were similar to those identified in two separate train speeding incidents at Spital Junction, in Peterborough, on 17 April 2022 and on 4 May 2023.

In both of those incidents, passengers had been left injured.

Following the preliminary examination, the RAIB said it had written to the Office of Rail and Road to draw attention to the incident and copied the letter to Network Rail, LNER and the Rail Safety and Standards Board.

The report stated: "This incident again illustrates the issues associated with relying completely on train drivers reacting appropriately to a junction or route indicator to control the risks presented by trains taking diverging low-speed turnouts on high-speed through routes.

"This risk may be increased by the introduction of higher performing train fleets, and possibly by routing patterns on an ever busier railway."

An LNER spokesperson said: "The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority.

"We have supported RAIB in their preliminary examination, note the recommendations made and will continue to work with partners in the industry."

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