Train passed red signal before fatal crash near Bedford, England, report says | BBC News
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A train driver killed in a crash in Bedfordshire, England, passed a red signal moments before the collision, investigators said.
Surely in this day and age an automatic system should prevent a train from going through a red light?
Train driver Shaun Burton, 60, died and 162 people were injured when one London-bound service crashed into the back of another on Friday.
OK. He passed a red signal. But why? Over tired? Overworked? Why is there no automatic braking system in case a signal is not observed? And if there was why didn’t it work? Is there a risk the dead man will be blamed? The one who’s not here to defend himself? That’s what usually happens in aviation. Dead pilots are often blamed.
All accidents have multiple causes.
It will be interesting to hear the final conclusions of the investigation report.
Heartfelt condolences to the driver’s loved ones and a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said in an interim report, external that Burton's train proceeded past a red signal near the scene of the crash in Elstow, near Bedford at 17:15 BST on Friday.
very good news 😂😂😂
It added that "it is not yet possible to say what indication the driver received" from automatic warning system (AWS) equipment fitted to the train.
There are many reasons why a train may pass a red such as low traction, brake failure and a raft of other technical problems. This implies the driver was at fault before any investigation has really started. The BBC is not a competent body to investigate and report on this and should not have said this. They should have just reported the train passed a red signal and investigation is ongoing to establish the cause.
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Fell asleep?? On his phone?? Medical emergency??
#Bedford #Train #BBCNews
An eyewitness said in the media the train in front had stopped to report a faulty system and why didn't TPWS work and apply the brakes?
More User Perspectives
Years ago, there was a system called AWS, which gave an audible and visual warning in the cab. We now have much more expensive high technology trains, it is incredible that SPAD has not been eliminated. This incident is shocking because rail travel is considered to be very safe. It raises uncomfortable questions.
@brandonprince3297Why did the train protection system fail, it should work automatically?
It automatically triggers emergency brakes if a train crosses a red signal or enters a strict speed zone too fast.
these is the reason why there should be Two people in the cab
@philgc11111❤❤ from Australia.😢
@shirleyellis9708this shouldnt be possible as there are safety systems that apply the emergency breaks if approaching a red signal too fast and when passing one to prevent this, how did the driver miss the red signal, did he turn the safety systems off or did they fail
@gibbo_303We have arrived at a point we cannot believe anything the BBC says.
The driver is dead so its easy to blame him .
Wait until there has been a full investigation !
thats what i thought i know it all before that the driver pass a red 😂😂😂
@BigT-lz3itThere are too many unanswered questions, lets just wait for the enquiry to conclude and hope measures of prevention can be put in place to prevent this from ever happening again. There are too many unanswered questions, other factors are also at play here.
@RosemaryGardener-v1vDEI driver
@BobbyDee-ix2wzInevitable, blame the dead train driver before any proper investigation. RIP Shaun Burton. All too easy! 🤔🥺
@Robert-z8i5sAlways blame the dead person ehhh, so he can't defend himself, very sad .
@Paul-ey1ctWhat if the driver had had an heart attack ?
@walron97ableHeart attack?
@stephenfraser2641He probably did go through a red, when you as a signalman throw the signal when hearing or seeing the train has failed, if the driver went through a green he is expecting the next signal to be green or yellow, so he goes through a green the train fails the signals are thrown the next signal will be red so running through is possible as they don't stop like cars.
So before you hang the driver for running a red, read all the regulations, signalling, driving and S&T before your speculations. It will only take you a couple of years in class to understand. Or just wait for the report.
I thought is was a SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger) incident. The two signals prior to the red signal would have been yellow warning the driver prepared to slow down as there is a red signal ahead.
@chrismckellar9350Trains in mainland Europe automatically brake if the train doesn't slow down before a red signal and especially if it passes it. Why don't train in the UK?
@onceuponatime1492Basically all signals need TPWS. Would almost certainly have prevented this.
@greendayforever2k9The are zero reasons why drivers should still be driving trains. The whole thing can and should be automated.
@cyb3rxBlame the dead man exactly what happened on the Moorgate Tube Accident dead driver can't explain what happened so everyone just assumes the driver is a mass Murderer and he gets the blame
@BLUETIDEWAVESJLH33Thats it blame a drad man
@RaymondFunnell-bs1wlThe truth was lost along with that man’s life
@jungresonant9772There are safety systems to stop the train if you try to run a red signal.obviously not working
@Rich-h8iTrain stopped for a fault. No surprise with EMR. I travel a lot and I find them appalling: certainly the worst rail company that I use in the UK. Yet at Nottingham station they seem to have lots of staff hanging around the barriers gossiping instead of helping passengers.
@SSB-im9mnDid the tracks not have AWS (advance warning system) where the train approaches a red light (and not slowing down) , the driver get a warning in the cab, who then has to cancel it STRAIGHT AWAY - or the brakes are harshly applied automictically -
(in case the driver does have a problem or is unresponsive)
hold on - ARE THEY TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK ON TO THE DRIVER -
They just said the first train had stopped due to a faulty warning system - The SAME SYSTEM THE SECOND TRAIN JUST WENT THROUGH AFTER THE FIRST ONE.
I don't think its the drive's fault - It sound like it's more of a problem with the system.
Prob terrorist attack
@olivialuxofficialI’ve always thought trains are dangerous. Will they ever have seatbelts?
@mark4levI thought so that they will blame it on the dead driver. R.I.P and Condolences to his family.
@Tota-t8t1nThat was my initial thought that it was a SPAD. Unfortunately, it will take some time to establish the circumstances as there could a large number of possibilities why he passed that signal at danger. One probability could be health issues with the driver.
@leedzaSounds like a smart motorway.
@James-gf9jlI could’ve bet money on it being a SPAD incident. Did the driver slam all on before impact or not? That could be interesting to determine. If he did he would’ve known he’d f* up! If not he could’ve been taken ill, had some sort seizure (Moorgate 1975) or it could be something else. We shall see.
@nigelkthomas9501Have we yet been made aware of the ethnicity & religious beliefs of the train driver ?
@CameronHayatSounds very convenient to myself!
@stephenchristian-k9sLots of questions to be asked here, too convenient to blame the driver that lost his life.
@dawnk2752I just hope there are no further fatalities and that everyone recovers. 🙏🙏🙏
@1258-EckhartRIP ❤
@NEX2Y_LauxXAnother SPAD
@AlonsoRulesThe complex system of the railways
Whereas back in 1940 the railways managed to distribute the returning soldiers from dover without
Any major incident using
600 trains..one would arrive
Every 10 minutes
Stop the gaslight. I'm more surprised that bbc is putting this out tbh. I thought they were about no news here untill full investigation, autopsy & court. The bbc is run by the woke extreme left. Truly disgusting
@kate-Eng13There we go it was the driver how about a map to show where the red signal and how far it was from the stopped train.
@billdennis3681“Boy if i see a White Train Driver i better hope they are qualified”
- Charlie Kirk
In this day and age, why have we still got 'drivers'?
@paulharris1502But at what distance was the red to the accident site did he have time to act God bless the lad and a speedy recovery to the passengers 🤔
@paulp96275Train union covering up for their drunk and obese members. Driver putting himself and the public at risk
@richardcollins3262That is so sad, may the driver rest in peace and hope his family can cope with his loss. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury back in the 70s and 80s, every Friday and Saturday night we had two coachs full of girls from Corby coming to our AQ club. Those were some fun times.
@patd1956