The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has released its report into a collision between a train and a road vehicle at Redcar level crossing.

At around 09:25 on the 1st May 2024, a train was travelling between Saltburn and Nunthorpe and hit a car on Redcar level crossing.

The train was travelling at 23mph and the collision caused injuries to the car driver and damage to the car, but no injuries were reported to staff or passengers on the train.

The RAIB’s investigation found that the signaller had opened the level crossing after a previous train had passed through.

The signaller then forgot that the crossing was open and tried to set the route for the train into Redcar Central, but was unable to clear the signal to allow the train to proceed.

This was because the signal had detected that the crossing was open. Unable to get the signal to clear, the signaller gave authorisation for the train to proceed passed the signal at danger.

With no crossing lights or gates closed, the car proceeded onto the crossing where the collision occurred.

The RAIB found that the normal sequence used by the signaller to set the route for the train to enter Redcar Central was disrupted by a telephone call and a perceived fault with the signalling panel.

This probably caused them to forget that the crossing was open to road traffic.

In its investigation, it also found that the train did not approach the level crossing at a speed that would allow them to stop before hitting a car. The driver was unable to see the crossing gates were open to traffic due to their unusual design.

The RAIB also found that the level crossing was not fitted with controls to automatically activate the wig-wag lights when a train approached.

Finally, the RAIB found that an underlying factor in the accident was that Network Rail’s process for managing compotenece had not addressed the signaller’s previous incidents.

RAIB has made one recommendation to Network Rail. This deals with reviewing the ergonomic risks associated with the operation of the signals and level crossings at Redcar signal box.

Three learning points have also been identified, relating to the need to comply with the rules associated with trains being authorised to pass signals at danger.

These relate to signallers checking that the route is clear, to train drivers driving at caution at controlled level crossings, and to signallers specifying the locations of controlled level crossings to train drivers.