Train accidents and the role of the RAIB

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is the UK's main organisation responsible for investigating the precise nature and causes of train accidents. It is funded by both the Department for Transport and a form of grant-in-aid from parliament.

Set up in the aftermath of the 1999 Ladbroke Grove train accident, the RAIB is an independent body charged with the remit of improving railway safety, as opposed to apportioning blame for particular accidents and incidents.

It is responsible for investigating accidents, whether or not they cause personal injury, on virtually all of Britain and Northern Ireland's railways. These railways include: underground networks (such as those in London and Glasgow), national rail networks, heritage railways, cable car systems, heritage railways and the Channel Tunnel link.

All railway managers have a duty to notify the RAIB of any accident on their network as soon as it is practicable to do so. Once this has been done, the RAIB will investigate, gather evidence and, eventually, make safety recommendations.

Carolyn Griffiths, chief inspector of rail accidents with the RAIB, neatly summarises the organisation's role, "Our purpose for investigating an accident or incident is to improve the safety of the railways, and to prevent further accidents from occurring.

"We achieve this by identifying the causes of accidents and other aspects that made the outcome worse.

"Our investigations are entirely independent and are focused solely on safety improvement - we do not apportion blame or liability, nor do we enforce law or carry out prosecutions."

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