Severn Tunnel rail accident
Date | 7 December 1991 |
---|---|
Location | Severn Tunnel, between English and Welsh borders |
Country | Great Britain |
Rail line | Great Western Main Line |
Cause | Axle counter failure or driver error |
Statistics | |
Trains | 2 |
Deaths | 0 |
Injuries | 185 (5 serious) |
List of UK rail accidents by year |
The Severn Tunnel rail accident occurred in the tunnel on 7 December 1991.[1]
The 08:30 London Paddington to Cardiff Central HST was stopped at a signal guarding the entrance to the Severn Tunnel. On telephoning the signalman according to Rule 55, the driver was advised of a signal failure and given permission to proceed slowly at caution. Three miles into the tunnel, the train was struck from behind by a Class 155 Super-Sprinter travelling from Portsmouth to Cardiff. 185 passengers were injured, including five seriously, but none fatally.[1]
Because track circuits were unreliable in the unusually wet tunnel environment (10 to 20 million gallons of water are pumped out per day),[2] axle counters were used instead. The official report into the accident[2] could not reach a firm conclusion, but speculated that the cause was either:
- an unaccountable error on the part of the Sprinter driver, or:
- technicians in the relay room at Severn Tunnel Junction had reset the axle counter while investigating the earlier fault, thus clearing the signal for the Sprinter.[1]
References
Coordinates: 51°34′41″N 2°41′46″W / 51.57806°N 2.69611°W