The interim report into the derailment of a train at Hammersmith tube station published by London Underground confirms that the cause of the derailment was a broken rail, but it concluded that that current visual inspection and ultrasonic testing practices would not have picked up the defect prior to the rail breaking.

The accident occurred on 17th October. A Piccadilly line train derailed shortly after leaving Hammersmith station travelling east towards Baron's Court. All wheels of the last carriage left the tracks, causing damage to the rails, chairs, sleepers and a trainstop. There were no injuries reported by those passengers on board the train.

"It is clear that neither visual inspections by Patrollers, nor the present method of Ultrasonic Testing would have, and will not, provide reliable identification of this type of initiating rail defect", concluded the report.

"All the evidence obtained has indicated that the cracking that occurred would not have been detected by the current inspection methods in use, either visual or ultrasonic, as mandated by LUL standards. The track had been inspected within the previous 24 hours, but subsequent analysis shows that the crack would not have been detectable visually".

The investigation team consists of staff from London Underground and Metronet Rail SSL, the company responsible for the maintenance of the Piccadilly line track at Hammersmith. It also includes Health & Safety representatives from the RMT, Aslef and TSSA unions. Full conclusions and recommendations will appear in the final report, due on 28 November 2003.

The interim report also indicates that "the condition of the track related assets in the area the derailment occurred are in a poor condition and have been so for many years" and that "maintenance activity over the years has not successfully addressed the root causes of the poor track condition". "It is likely that the poor condition of these assets contributed to the displacement of the broken rail, possibly contributing to the fractured ends springing apart laterally and thus derailing the wheel."

"The investigation team have established that there is currently no robust mechanism whereby the individuals who report track related problems, and their managers, receive assurance that an inspection has been undertaken and, where appropriate, remedial action taken. This has given rise to a lack of confidence that when reports of track problems have been made, that appropriate action has been taken", says the report.

London Underground Managing Director Tim O'Toole said: "London Underground and Metronet are already looking at Tube maintenance standards and practices, including the frequency and technology of ultrasonic testing, to detect such rail defects".

TfL Web site

Read the Interim Report into Hammersmith derailment