Industry news
Train crash due to bridge corrosion
Posted Thu, 04 Feb
Heavy corrosion on a bridge resulted in its collapse, leading to the derailing a fuel-laden freight train that burst into flames, a report has revealed.
The accident in Scotland was due to long-term damage on the bridge over the A735. A "hidden corrosion trap" in the construction was said to have caused holes to form in the inner part of the main girders.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) performed a year-long investigation into the accident in Ayrshire and found that the hidden parts of the bridge had not been inspected. A chance to detect the damage was missed in 1987 when waterproofing work was performed on the bridge, but full repairs and repainting were not carried out.
No action was taken after the corrosion on the girders was identified in a routine detailed examination of the bridge, said investigators from the RAIB in their report.
There were no deaths or injuries when the 10-wagon freight train - carrying a cocktail of gas, oil, diesel and kerosene - derailed.
But flames shot 50ft into the air and a huge plume of thick black smoke drifted above the scene. Significant damage was found to have been caused to the environment due to the fuel from the train leaking into nearby watercourses.
The bridge collapsed and the wagons overturned on 27 January last year. The train had been crossing the metal underbridge to the south of the town of Stewarton.
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