A systemic analysis of railway accidents

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part F, Journal of rail and rapid transit Vol. 219; no. 2; pp. 47 - 65
• Main Authors: Santos-Reyes, J, Beard, A N, Smith, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2005; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Accident prevention; Accidents; Analysis; Mechanical engineering; Railroad accidents & safety; Railroad transportation; Railway accidents; Railways; Safety management; United Kingdom > UK; British Isles; Germany; systemic; railway; management; safety
• ISSN: 0954-4097; 2041-3017
• DOI: 10.1243/095440905X8745

Abstract Over the last 15 years many railway accidents have happened in Britain and worldwide. Following these train accidents, there has been a large amount of public debate about safety management on the British railways. These accidents have raised issues regarding the effectiveness of the safety management of the railway system. This paper presents a summary of the results of a preliminary systemic analysis of several British rail accidents, i.e. those at Clapham Junction (1988), Paddington (1999), Hatfield (2000), Selby (2001), and Potters Bar (2002). It also includes the train accident at Eschede, Germany (1998). It is hoped that this systemic analysis will help to identify ‘learning points’, which are relevant for preventing accidents in the railway industry. The model is described in the context of the British railway industry. However, the model itself is general and not specific to any particular country.