RAIB not investigating lorry which crashed onto railway line

One person was taken to hospital[1] after the lorry came off a motorway and crashed onto a railway line but the incident has been classified as a road traffic collision rather than an issue for the RAIB to investigate. Train services between Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Dumfries were disrupted following the incident which happened near Gretna just before 8am on Friday, December 13. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances and a specialist unit to the scene close to Junction 22 on the A74(M), while the ambulance service sent an ambulance and a paramedic response unit.

Concern has been raised by a former MP for Carlisle who has said that there should have been crash barriers up on the line to prevent the crash from happening. "Lessons have not been learned after the Selby crash, in which ten people died," said Eric Martlew. "There should have been crash barriers to stop this; if a train had been coming, there could have been many fatalities.

This was done in many parts of the rail network "The question to ask is, will they now erect them at this site?" READ MORE: Coach driver on trial for dangerous driving after OAP death[2]

The RAIB have said that they will not be investigating the incident further as there was no moving train in the vicinity of the lorry at the time of the crash.

A spokesperson for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said: "RAIB were notified of the incident, however based on our understanding of the circumstances (that there was no moving train in the vicinity) we are not making any further enquiries. 

"The incident is classified as a road traffic accident."

References

1. ^ One person was taken to hospital (www.newsandstar.co.uk)
2. ^ Coach driver on trial for dangerous driving after OAP death (www.newsandstar.co.uk)