RAIB guidance on train crash and railway accident reporting for the rail industry

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is the UK's principal organisation responsible for investigating train crashes and railway accidents.

Since October 2005, rail service providers and all railway industry bodies have been required by law to notify the RAIB of certain accidents and incidents that occur in the railway transport industry.

The Railway (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005 sets out the RAIB conditions of operation, with particular reference to accident reporting in Regulation 4. The principal aim of the notification procedure is to ensure that the RAIB can promptly commence investigations and target available resources in the pursuance of accident prevention and future railway safety.

The RAIB has a schedule for the notification of accidents, starting with the most serious, such as:

• Deaths to passengers, members of the public or staff, caused in accidents or incidents involving moving trains.
• Serious injuries to two or more passengers, members of the public or staff, caused in accidents or incidents involving moving trains.
• Level Crossing accidents involving death or serious injury to a person except suicide and trespass.

These types of serious incidents require immediate notification to the RAIB by phone, followed up by a report on designated form RAIBN1.

Less serious incidents require three working day notification in writing on form RAIBN1 and less serious still require monthly bulk notification on form RAIBN2.

After notification of an accident the RAIB will decide its response based upon:>

• Whether the investigation is mandated by law;
• Whether there is important evidence at the scene;
• Whether it is part of a trend; or
• The safety issues at stake.

After an investigation the RAIB will make recommendations for actions that it believes will improve railway safety.

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Ordinarily, the RAIB's reports make recommendations on actions that it believes are needed to improve railway safety. These recommendations have to be addressed, by law, to the relevant safety authorities and other public bodies as appropriate even though they may not be the end implementer.

How does the RAIB respond to an accident notification?

• If an accident or incident occurs, the RAIB will decide its response, which will be influenced by:
• Whether the investigation is mandated by law;
• Whether there is important evidence at the scene;
• Whether it is part of a trend; or
• The safety issues at stake.

The response will range from immediate dispatch of Inspectors to the site, site investigation, collection of evidence through to supervising others carrying out an investigation.

The RAIB has discretion to investigate any other accidents that involve operating trains. In deciding which to investigate, the RAIB will take into account the seriousness of the accident and the potential for lessons learned and the improvement of safety.

Accidents not investigated by the RAIB will still be investigated by the industry parties involved, and potentially the Police or safety authority.

The RAIB will not investigate:

• Worker accidents/incidents with the exception of those involving train movements;
• Accidents/incidents involving trespassers or suicides; or
• Accidents/incidents where there are no likely safety lessons to be learned.