The safety of rail workers deteriorated but passenger protection improved last year, prompting the industry regulator to claim Britain’s railway is one of the safest in Europe.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) published its annual report for 2011-12 yesterday (24 July), in which it highlighted a number of successes but also stipulated that the industry must develop better safety management systems to maintain improvements.
Overall, the level of passenger harm decreased by 12 per cent last year, to the lowest level ever recorded. Level-crossing safety also improved, with levels of recorded harm reducing by 15 per cent – a particularly welcome development in view of the recent huge fines handed down to Network Rail for fatalities at level crossings in Wiltshire and Essex in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
However, workforce safety deteriorated slightly, with increased incidents involving train drivers and on-board crew contributing to a 4-per-cent rise in the rate of harm last year.
Even more concerning was the almost-doubling of higher-risk train accidents – from 18 to 34. However, the ORR emphasised that this is still the second lowest total on record.
Train-drivers’ union ASLEF, while welcoming the positive findings of the report, urged the ORR to take action in relation to worker safety and accidents. It added: “[We believe] that recommendations made in the McNulty report Rail value for money will lead to an even greater occurrence of incidents on the line.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, also welcomed the report – particularly “the reduction in the number of passengers getting hurt on journeys and improved safety on level crossings” – adding: “It’s important that the rail industry maintains and builds on this success by addressing the areas highlighted in the report.”
ORR director of safety, Ian Prosser, commented: “It is to the rail industry’s great credit that safety on Britain’s railways is now largely taken for granted, comparing favourably to travel by road.
“Our 2012 health and safety report shows that Britain continues to have one of the safest railways in Europe. Indeed, safety on our railways is improving in key areas. However, over the past year we have had to step in to ensure safety on mainline and heritage lines, and train and freight services.
“It is vital that the whole rail industry continues to work together, builds on its successes, and tackles areas where there is room for improvement.”
Mr Prosser explained that the regulator is focusing on helping the rail industry develop “a cutting-edge approach” to safety, using proactive, forward-looking safety systems against a background of industry reform and making sure safety is “front of centre” of everything it does.
To view ORR’s annual health and safety report in full, click here.
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