GWR Safety Fail: ORR Fine & Droplight Window Risks in UK Rail

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Introduction

Great Western Railway (GWR) was fined GBP 1 million and ordered to pay over GBP 78,000 in costs following a health and safety law breach investigation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), related to a fatal incident near Twerton, Bath, on December 1, 2018.

Incident Details

The incident on December 1, 2018, near Twerton, Bath, resulted in the death of 28-year-old Bethan Roper. She sustained a head injury after leaning out of a droplight window and striking a tree branch. Droplight windows, found on trains with slam doors, can be lowered to open.

ORR Investigation Findings

The ORR investigation determined that GWR did not adequately address known safety risks associated with droplight windows. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) had issued safety recommendations in May 2017, following a similar fatal incident in 2016 near Balham, south London.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

GWR completed a written risk assessment for droplight windows in September 2017. The assessment identified the hazard as a significant passenger safety risk. However, some of the mitigation measures outlined were not implemented prior to the 2018 accident.

Post-Incident Actions

Following Ms. Roper’s death, further safety recommendations were implemented across the rail industry. All rolling stock with droplight windows has either been removed from service or fitted with engineering controls to prevent them from being opened while trains are in motion.