Signaller forgot about approaching train before fatal level crossing collision, investigators find

A rail signaller forgot an approaching passenger train was on the line before giving a tractor driver permission to cross a level crossing, leading to a serious collision near Leominster, according to a new investigation report.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the incident highlights continuing concerns around human error and workload pressures at user-worked level crossings after identifying similar failures in previous investigations at Redcar and Helpston.

The collision happened on 22 May last year when a Transport for Wales service travelling from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central struck a farm trailer at Nordan Farm crossing while travelling at around 80mph.

Six passengers and one member of staff suffered minor injuries in the incident, while both the train’s leading driving trailer and the agricultural trailer sustained extensive damage.

RAIB found the tractor driver had contacted Woofferton signal box to request permission to cross, but the signaller authorised the movement after forgetting the train was approaching.

Investigators said the signaller failed to follow standard operating procedures and did not check signalling equipment showing the train’s location before allowing the crossing to be used.

Just minutes earlier, the same signaller had recorded the train entering the section and carried out the normal signalling processes as it passed through the area.

Forward-facing CCTV from the train showed the tractor and trailer entering the crossing only seconds before impact.

The train subsequently derailed and pushed the trailer more than 500 metres along the track after the collision.

RAIB said requests to use the crossing are normally infrequent, but the signaller had experienced an unusually high number of crossing requests that morning linked to seasonal farming activity.

On the day of the accident, six crossing requests were made within a 35-minute period, generating around 20 phone calls between the crossing user and signalling staff.

Investigators said the increase created significant and unexpected workload pressures, requiring repeated safety decisions alongside normal signalling duties.

The report also revealed the signaller had initially applied signal protection measures during earlier crossing movements but later stopped doing so following a discussion with a more experienced colleague.

According to RAIB, the colleague suggested protection was normally only used for crossings expected to take three minutes or longer.

Investigators concluded the less experienced signaller was influenced by that advice and subsequently changed their approach.

The report also noted the signaller had been dealing with a family emergency and had suffered a lack of sleep prior to the shift.

RAIB said the incident demonstrated wider shortcomings in Network Rail’s approach to managing risks at user-worked crossings during periods of intensive agricultural activity.

The investigation has recommended that Network Rail reviews its risk assessment processes and provides clearer guidance to help signallers determine when additional protection measures should be introduced for slow-moving or large vehicles using crossings.