January 26th 2009

The Work of the Rail Accident Investigation Board
       given by Andy Savage

Our Speaker on the 26th January 2009 was Andy Savage, who is currently Deputy Chief Inspector of the Railway Accident Investigation Board. It was particularly interesting to have a talk on railway accidents as last year we had a similar talk on the work of the Air Accident Investigation Board.

Andy explained the independent nature of the Board and the fact that it has only been operating fully since October 2005. For reasons of efficiency the RAIB operate from two centres, one in Woking and and the other in Derby,to date they have issued some 102 reports. The scope of their interest includes main line operations, the London Dock Railway, tramways through to many of the small private operators ( including the Ffestiniog railway with which he was involved for many years).

The primary criteria for an investigation was where a moving vehicle was involved, where thetre were casualties or a significant costly implication. Andy explained in some detail that the RAIB were only seeking to establish the causes of accidents and to make recommendations where appropriate. Their remit is not to apportion blame, a commonly held misconception of the RAIB’s function. He also emphasised that by the independent nature of their operation they had earned the respect from the rail operators. Overall the record indicated that there was a steady reduction in accidents over the whole of the range cover by the Board.

As with the Air Accident Investigation Board, the RAIB led all investigation relating to any accident, the only exception being where there was any hint of criminality, when the civil police lead the investigation supported by RAIB members.

Andy concluded the talk with a run through a number of accidents (with slides), explaining the causes they had identified and the recommendation they had made.

A lively but brief question session from a large audience followed Andy’s talk, he has offered to return sometime in the future to talk about the Highland Railway, a line with which he is very familiar. The vote of thanks from the Society was given by Dick Abbott.