The driving force of the packed prepare that slammed into the again of a stranded service in a Salisbury tunnel is in hospital with ‘life altering accidents’ at this time as British Transport Police additionally revealed there may be ‘nothing to counsel’ the primary prepare hit something on the road earlier than it derailed.
BTP has mentioned a senior detective is now main the investigation into the the horror smash that triggered carnage contained in the smoke-filled carriages final evening and left 17 individuals harm.
Passengers fearing they have been about to die had referred to as family members to say goodbye as investigators probe how a busy locomotive was a ‘sitting duck’ for seven minutes earlier than a second high-speed service smashed into it when indicators failed to show purple.
The Workplace for Rail and Highway and the Rail Accident Investigations Department is at this time looking for out what triggered the primary prepare from Portsmouth to Bristol to cease simply outdoors Salisbury Station.
Passengers described feeling a ‘jolt’ and early reviews within the aftermath of the incident mentioned that the primary prepare was derailed after putting particles on the monitor – akin to a chunk of the 164-year-old tunnel it entered – after heavy rain and robust winds swept throughout the nation yesterday. One lady on the prepare mentioned a hearsay amongst passengers was that the primary prepare might have been thrown from the monitor after hitting a part of a fallen tree.
However BTP at this time mentioned that they haven’t but discovered proof of this.
A senior railway engineer additionally advised MailOnline at this time {that a} ‘main flaw’ with indicators meant they did not routinely flip purple and allowed the second high-speed inter-city service to smash into the derailed prepare leaving not less than 17 individuals injured.
The driving force of one of many trains, containing many youngsters and households returning residence after half time period, was trapped in his cab and is believed to have fractured his leg whereas others on board broke noses and ft in addition to struggling extreme cuts and bruises. However remarkably nobody was killed.
One teenager on the second prepare travelling from London to Devon grabbed his telephone and filmed inside one carriage that was tipping over and mentioned: ‘F*** me. We are actually on our aspect’ earlier than zooming in on an injured man and saying: ‘That man’s face is mashed’.
One other survivor declared: ‘It was actually scary, a lot of individuals began taking movies saying ‘mum and pop, I really like you’, scared they have been going to die’.
Passengers on a Nice Western Railways service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads have been thrown round their pitch-black carriages after their prepare hit an object because it entered the 1857-built Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury, sending it off the rails because it entered the 430-yard underpass at round 6.38pm final evening.
Round 60 individuals have been stranded on the derailed prepare for seven minutes earlier than a South Western Railway service from London to Honiton with round 60 extra individuals on board ploughed into it at round 6.45pm after indicators did not kick in.
These on board the trains described an enormous bang like a ‘bomb going off’ when the collision occurred, adopted by flying glass, sparks from the grinding steel and even tables flying throughout the carriages. Firefighters and paramedics rescued round 120 individuals, together with a three-week-old child.
Callum Stedman, 16, mentioned passengers thought they’d die as smoked stuffed the carriages of the second prepare and feared it was a ‘terror assault’. Some referred to as their family members to say goodbye.
He advised The Solar: ‘We felt a jolt and all the things went black. All of us landed on one another and the prepare was at 45 levels on its aspect.
‘Lights began approaching from individuals’s telephones and we began trying round, you see individuals with damaged noses and black eyes and blood dripping. It was simply actually scary, the smoke was the worst half since you thought it was going to catch hearth and you’d die’.
He added: ‘Outdoors the door there was an enormous fireball and there was smoke after which there was a lot of smoke and plenty of gas and that is when everybody began panicking. There have been lots of people crying and a few individuals have been kicking within the home windows as a result of they have been burdened’.
Abigail Taylor was on the primary prepare and mentioned: ‘We stopped within the tunnel after which the prepare simply jolted a number of instances and it was clear one thing wasn’t proper, it was virtually like turbulence on a aircraft however worse. Folks have been saying there was a tree that had fallen, which was why we had derailed, and one thing occurred to the indicators, which was why we acquired hit by one other prepare. However I don’t know if that was correct or not. It was a miracle nobody was killed’.
The Salisbury prepare crash has led to 108 providers being cancelled at this time alone with the road serving the West Nation and routes from the south coast to Wales disrupted till Thursday evening on the earliest.
As passengers caught up within the chaos mentioned they have been fortunate to be alive, it additionally emerged:
- A senior Community Rail engineer advised MailOnline that an ‘automated obstruction warning’ did not occur when the first prepare derailed – this is able to have triggered a purple mild on all indicators and stopped any prepare getting into that very same mile-long stretch. As a substitute the second prepare heading to Salisbury station smashed into the primary prepare with out with the ability to cease;
- The incident got here simply 5 months after Community Rail refurbished switches and crossings in addition to steelwork repairs, strengthening and portray work at Fisherton Tunnel, approaching Salisbury Station, the place the crash came about final evening;
- In the present day the Workplace for Rail and Highway and the Rail Accident Investigations Department have been photographing the rails on the entrance to the tunnel the place a chunk of rock or particles is known to have derailed the primary prepare;
- 108 providers through Salisbury cancelled at this time as tunnel linking London and the West Nation stays closed with providers from Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour or Brighton disrupted in addition to routes between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids;
An injured man on one of many trains caught up within the horror smash in Salisbury final evening (left). Folks have been laying on the ground of one of many carriages (proper) with cuts, suspected fractures and damaged noses with some calling family members fearing they’d die
The scene on the Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at this time the place the railway line stays closed for investigations after two trains collided
The scene this morning as two trains collided in Fisherton Tunnel as greater than a dozen individuals have been despatched to hospital however none have been critically injured
Within the aftermath of the crash, the South West Railway prepare (left) is seen with its cab mangled after hitting the again of the stationary GWR service, which had beforehand partially derailed in a tunnel near Salisbury station
Officers from the Workplace of Highway and Rail (ORR) and the Rail Accident Investigation Department (RAIB) examine the rails on the level on the entrance to the tunnel the place the primary prepare is believed to have derailed
The SWR service, being known as ‘Prepare 2’, seems to be essentially the most badly broken of the 2 trains with carriages leaning at 45 levels
The GWR prepare on the left derailed at round 6.38pm final evening and round seven minutes later the SWR prepare on the appropriate of the image slammed into it after signalling did not kick in
Consultants have been taking photographs and movies on the crash scene because it seems the primary prepare was derailed by particles on the rails after which signalling issues led to the second prepare piling into it
Consultants take a look at the rails beneath the second prepare that careered into the primary prepare after darkish final evening
Royal Navy sailor Morgan Harris, who was travelling from London Waterloo again to his base in Yeovil, mentioned he was thrown from his seat as a result of impression of the large crash. The 20-year-old In a position Seaman mentioned: ‘It was all going alongside usually then, hastily, there was this large bang and all the lights went out. There was sparks and flames from the place we had come off the monitor, and there was a load of ash coming from outdoors. Our prepare was on its aspect… I used to be thrown out of my seat and banged towards the desk.’
Passenger Dimitri Popa, from Romania, was travelling on the prepare from London to Sherborne when the terrifying crash occurred.
The 17 12 months outdated mentioned: ‘All of it occurred so quick… I used to be simply sitting within the first carriage and there was an enormous crash. Then I noticed the flames and acquired fairly scared, and all of the lights went out. The carriage was 45 levels to the appropriate. We did not know the place we have been or something… we have been all simply so shocked.’
A younger lady dwelling in one of many homes closest to Fisherton Tunnel, the place the crash occurred and the 2 trains stay, has advised of her horror as she watched ladies as younger as 15 suffered from damaged bones. The lady, who wished to stay nameless, mentioned: ‘There have been two ladies I noticed sitting simply throughout the bridge. I noticed them from one of many bed room home windows in my home.
‘They have been wrapped in silver blankets and all the things. They have been sat on the financial institution throughout from our home and one of many ladies appeared like she had damaged her foot. ‘The opposite woman was respiration right into a bag as a result of she was so terrified and shocked.
‘They have been solely youngsters… I’d guess they have been round 15 years outdated. There have been plenty of younger individuals on the prepare. ‘We additionally noticed individuals bringing large tools to chop open the steel of the prepare, as a result of there have been so many individuals trapped in there.’
Talking to MailOnline on situation of anonymity, a senior Community Rail engineer claimed that when the GWR prepare collided with an object and derailed, there ought to be an ‘automated obstruction warning’ to cease any prepare getting into that very same mile-long stretch.
‘There was a serious flaw inside the signalling system inside Community Rail. The system says that the road is just not secure for the passage of one other prepare as a result of there may be an obstruction on the road,’ they mentioned, including: ‘In keeping with my system, the signalling system was conscious seven minutes earlier than impression. It ought to’ve routinely stopped the prepare. It ought to’ve routinely set all indicators to purple. If the motive force did not see the sign, the system ought to’ve made the prepare cease.’
The whistleblower added: ‘I’ve realised for a lot of years there was quite a few failures inside [Network Rail]’ and mentioned that they had feared an incident like this is able to occur ‘for the previous two years’.
17 individuals have been injured together with one of many drivers, who was minimize free having suffered a suspected damaged ankle. A ‘small quantity’ of individuals have been taken to hospital, whereas the ‘strolling wounded’ have been cared for at a close-by church the place native individuals provided help within the type of blankets, meals, drinks and first assist.
Officers declared it a ‘crucial’ incident as observers claimed it was a miracle no one was killed.
A serious rail accident investigation is underway and consultants will take a look at why indicators that ought to have turned purple to cease the approaching prepare properly upfront seemingly suffered a ‘main’ flaw and let the second prepare by means of, MailOnline has been advised. Additionally it is doable that the derailed prepare my have knocked out the signalling within the space when it derailed.
Witnesses advised of listening to a sound ‘like a bomb going off’ because the crash, some of the severe lately on the UK rail community, unfolded. One lady who was on board advised of her terror as she was thrown across the crashing prepare.
Angela Mattingly, who was on the SWR prepare, mentioned: ‘Every thing went black and there have been purple flashes and all the things.
‘There was instantly plenty of jostling, possessions being thrown round and I believe a couple of individuals went ahead and hit their heads. You simply do not know for a few seconds what’s taking place. Folks began to panic however no one was critically injured’.
Lucy Gregory advised the BBC: ‘We have been simply pulling into Salisbury station and the prepare felt a bit juddery. I would just stood up and put my coat on and my telephone in my pocket when there was this large impression and I fell throughout the desk. The desk got here off the wall and I ended up beneath one other desk. They smashed the home windows and we acquired out of the window. It was actually scary.’
Final evening a British Transport Police officer mentioned the motive force and a small variety of individuals had been taken to hospital.
Talking to Sky Information, Inspector Mullah Hoque mentioned they’d stay on scene all through the evening to determine what occurred.
He mentioned: ‘Most of those persons are strolling wounded, nevertheless a small quantity, together with the motive force, have been taken to a hospital the place their accidents are being assessed.’
Andy Cole, assistant chief hearth officer for Dorset & Wiltshire Fireplace & Rescue service, mentioned that they had rescued roughly 100 individuals from the prepare carriages and confirmed there had been no fatalities.
Tamar Vellacott mentioned she was strolling outdoors together with her younger kids, mom and accomplice on Jewell Shut, Bishopdown, round a kilometre from the scene.
‘It was a noise we have by no means heard earlier than… my younger ones began panicking pondering it was a bomb and we mentioned possibly a lorry had crashed on the London Highway and to not panic,’ the 25-year-old mentioned.
‘There was no screeching like brakes, only a lengthy rumbling sound like thunder hitting the railway line.’
Pictures taken from on board the derailed SWR prepare confirmed it at a 45-degree angle within the tunnel after the collision
Emergency crews rushed to the scene at Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury following the collision at round 6.45pm yesterday night. The SWR prepare from London to Devon is seen on an angle after colliding with a stopped GWR service
The doorway to Fisherton Tunnel close to Salisbury. The rear carriage of a GWR prepare from Portsmouth to Bristol derailed after many of the prepare had entered the tunnel on the monitor that emerges from the left of this picture. The SWR prepare then collided with it having approached the tunnel from the monitor that runs beneath the street this picture is taken from. The rear of the GWR prepare was shunted into the tunnel wall on the left of the doorway, whereas the SWR prepare derailed extra absolutely and crossed on to the right-side of the tunnel on a 45-degree angle
The drama unfolded in Fisherton Tunnel, a serious junction becoming a member of two strains as they strategy Salisbury from the south and from the east.
Firstly the 17:08 Nice Western Rail service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads, which entered the junction from the south, hit an object the tunnel – presumably materials that fell from the tunnel roof, sources mentioned – and the rear carriage derailed. The prepare had been due into Salisbury at 6:28pm however unhealthy climate was inflicting delays throughout the rail community.
Seven minutes later at round 6.45pm, the 17:20 South West Rail prepare from London Waterloo to Honiton in Devon, which was due into Salisbury at 6.47pm, sped into the junction from the east. For some purpose indicators had not alerted the motive force of the obstruction – or had did not cease his prepare if he missed the purple lights.
The SWR prepare smashed into the stationary GWR service within the tunnel, derailed itself and skidded alongside the within of the tunnel at 45-degrees, apparently being held up by the tunnel wall. Its driver was trapped in his mangled cab and wanted to be minimize free by emergency staff. Solely the final carriage remained upright.
Tamar Vellacott advised reporters that she was strolling together with her younger kids round half a mile from the scene once they heard the crash.
‘It was a noise we have by no means heard earlier than, my younger ones began panicking pondering it was a bomb and we mentioned possibly a lorry had crashed on the London Highway and to not panic,’ mentioned the 25-year-old.
‘There was no screeching like brakes, only a lengthy rumbling sound like thunder. It did spook us although, so we determined to get in our automobile and drive residence. Three police automobiles handed us at velocity.’
The engineer added that the incident wouldn’t have been avoidable if the oncoming prepare was too near the derailed GWR, however given the seven-minute warning this might not have been the case.
‘There was a serious flaw inside the signalling system inside Community Rail.’
Peter Golden, 52, from Laverstock, Wiltshire, mentioned: ‘There’s a deep chopping resulting in a tunnel on the strategy to Salisbury Station from the east and it seems just like the collision is there.
‘It appeared like one thing large collapsing – the sound of issues falling into one another.
‘With the windy day we have had I first thought it was an enormous gust of wind that has knocked one thing heavy over.
‘It wasn’t until the helicopter arrived on station over the tunnel that I realised what I had heard.
‘The primary helicopter arrived on station and began hovering about 30 to 40 minutes after the collision.
‘On station means it arrives and hovers or circles – so to help with eyes and lightning.
‘There have been a lot of sirens and emergency automobiles on London Highway.
‘Emergency automobiles have been coming from the west and east – presumably Andover – in addition to Salisbury.
‘Associates nearer have talked about passengers being guided as much as the ambulances on London Highway, so strolling which is nice.’
The incident is being investigated by the Workplace for Rail and Highway and the Rail Accident Investigations Department.
Martin Frobisher, group security and engineering director, technical authority, at Community Rail, mentioned he doesn’t know precisely what occurred within the Salisbury prepare collision on Sunday night.
He advised BBC Radio 4’s In the present day Programme: ‘We’re vastly relieved that no one was critically injured, however the passengers should have had a extremely scary expertise, and we’re very sorry for that.
‘We’re clearly beginning now a really detailed and forensic investigation into what occurred.
‘The Rail Accident Investigation Department are on website and so they’re extremely thorough within the work that they do.
‘And that’ll assist us be taught from this, and that is why these occasions are very uncommon, as a result of we comply with it up very, very fastidiously, and guarantee that we do all the things doable to forestall it for the longer term.’
Mr Frobisher mentioned it’s ‘far too early to invest’, including that there’s ‘plenty of contradictory data’ within the early levels of an investigation.
Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, mentioned it’s ‘too early to invest’ a few collision between two trains in a tunnel close to Salisbury.
She advised Good Morning Britain: ‘Our focus in the intervening time is with the purchasers and colleagues which have been affected by this and clearly working with the emergency providers to know precisely what occurred.
‘Hypothesis is admittedly not acceptable right now. We actually want to attend for the investigation to take its course after which we’ll know precisely what occurred.
‘However I wish to say an enormous thanks to the emergency providers who have been actually swift in response final evening, and we moved individuals from the prepare fairly shortly.’
Emergency providers mentioned they’d stay on the scene of the collision by means of the evening and it could be days earlier than providers might resume
A fleet of ambulances ready on the scene of the collision. Most of these injured have been described as ‘strolling wounded’ nevertheless a ‘small quantity’ together with one driver have been take to hospital for checks
Round 50 firefighters in addition to Wiltshire Police and ambulance attended the scene
Firefighters take chopping tools in the direction of the scene of the prepare crash in Salisbury final evening. The driving force of the London to Honiton service wanted releasing from his mangled cab
Police arrange street blocks across the website of the crash. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned investigations into the crash can be undertaken so as to assist forestall related ‘severe’ incidents in future
Locals who stay round a mile away described listening to an enormous bang ‘like a bomb going off’ because the trains collided
Signalling for the world has been worn out, with South Western Railway warning that every one strains operating by means of Salisbury and Andover are presently blocked whereas an investigation takes place.
Dozens of emergency staff, together with 50 firefighters, raced to the scene of the crash.
Footage confirmed shocked survivors being led from the derailed trains alongside the tracks, with firefighters and rail workers lighting their manner with torches.
Crash survivor Corinna Anderson advised the BBC she noticed a new child child being rescued from the GWR prepare that had derailed first.
She advised the BBC: ‘I did hear and see that on the Temple Meads prepare there was a three-week-old child that was rescued off the prepare by the fireplace service and fortunately she is doing okay.
‘As I climbed off my prepare I noticed the fireman cradling the child in his arms after which I noticed the mom get given the child and so they have been escorted away for medical consideration.’
British Transport Police mentioned a casualty centre has been arrange at St Mark’s Church within the metropolis.
The reverend of the church mentioned 120 prepare passengers have been taken to the location, with some ‘visibly shaken’ and injured.
Reverend Andy Bousfield was ‘simply settling down for a quiet night’ when he heard police automobiles and a helicopter, and later acquired a name from an officer asking if he might open up the church.
He mentioned: ‘I used to be settling down for a quiet night and the telephone rang about the identical time as I heard police automobiles go previous and a helicopter overhead.
‘It was a police officer phoning to say he was outdoors the church and asking if they may use it.. I mentioned ‘I will be there in 5 minutes’.
‘Inside 10 minutes individuals began coming in.
‘The primary individuals gave the impression to be completely positive, there have been a couple of with accidents, a few of them have been shaken and simply needed someplace to sit down down.
‘We simply popped the kettle on and in reality a few of the neighbours popped round with biscuits and milk* It is an actual pulling collectively.
‘We have had plenty of calls from members of the church asking in the event that they may also help.
‘There was about 100, 120 individuals.. it was plenty of cups of tea.
‘It was fairly good that the group got here collectively on the final minute for an emergency.’
Firefighters and cops are seen standing with South Western Railway workers on a bridge overlooking the part of railway the place the derailment occurred
The Rail Accident Investigation Department tonight mentioned it had deployed inspectors to the location of a collision for a preliminary examination of the scene
An Workplace of Rail and Highway spokesperson added: ‘We’re supporting Community Rail and the prepare operators, plus RAIB and the British Transport Police, with respect to the collision between two trains close to Salisbury Tunnel Junction and liaising with emergency providers responding to the incident’
Andy Cole (left) from Dorset & Wiltshire Fireplace and Rescue speaks to the media close to the scene of a crash involving two trains close to the Fisherton Tunnel between Andover and Salisbury in Wiltshire
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned investigations into the crash can be undertaken so as to assist forestall related ‘severe’ incidents in future.
‘My ideas exit to these affected by the intense rail incident close to Salisbury,’ Mr Shapps tweeted.
Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris added: ‘I’m conscious of a rail incident that came about close to Salisbury.
‘Emergency Companies are on the scene and I’m in shut communication with Community Rail & operators.
‘Our ideas are with these affected by this severe incident.’
Transport Salaried Staffs Affiliation basic secretary Manuel Cortes mentioned: ‘We should await additional particulars, however this can be a very sobering reminder about why security on our railways is at all times paramount.
‘The ideas of our complete union are with the family members of everybody caught up in what could properly change into a tragic occasion.
‘Little doubt that over the approaching days and weeks we’ll discover out why this accident occurred. A full investigation will now must comply with.’
The British Transport Police issued a press release and mentioned officers would stay on scene all through the evening.
‘We have been referred to as to Fisherton Tunnel in Salisbury at 6.46pm tonight following reviews of a prepare derailment which concerned two passenger trains colliding.
‘Officers are persevering with to reply to the incident alongside our emergency service colleagues and the road is predicted to be shut for a while.
‘Fortunately there have been no fatalities nevertheless a lot of individuals have been injured and a casualty centre has been opened at a close-by church.
‘Most of those persons are strolling wounded nevertheless a small quantity, together with the motive force, have been taken to hospital the place their accidents are being assessed.
‘A serious incident has been declared and this has been a big scale, multi-agency response working intently alongside our colleagues in Wiltshire.
‘We’ll stay on scene all through the evening working to determine the complete circumstances of how this incident got here to occur.’
The Rail Accident Investigation Department tonight mentioned it had deployed inspectors to the location of a collision for a preliminary examination of the scene.
An Workplace of Rail and Highway spokesperson added: ‘We’re supporting Community Rail and the prepare operators, plus RAIB and the British Transport Police, with respect to the collision between two trains close to Salisbury Tunnel Junction and liaising with emergency providers responding to the incident.’
A Community Rail spokesperson mentioned: ‘At round 7pm this night, the rear carriage of the 1708 Nice Western Railway service from Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads derailed after putting an object on its strategy to Salisbury station.
‘The derailment knocked out all the signalling within the space. Subsequently, the 1720 South Western Railway service from London Waterloo to Honiton then collided with the Bristol prepare.
‘There are reviews of accidents and the emergency providers are on website together with railway first responders.’
Disruption to providers within the space was anticipated to final for days.
MailOnline have approached British Transport Police and Community Rail for touch upon the whistleblower’s claims.
