This page contains definitions for the safety incidents reported on this website.
Derailment of train in service
Any derailment occurring in the movement of a train on a running line.
Includes:
- Track machine derailments if they are travelling on the line as a running train.
- Shunting derailments occurring on running lines within station limits.
Excludes:
- Derailments of work trains/track machines occurring within closed section.
- Derailments that occur on a section of a running line which, at the time, was under absolute possession (meaning not available for normal train running), usually for the purposes of carrying out engineering works.
Derailment in yard
Any derailment that occurs in yards or sidings or on a closed running line.
Collisions
When a train or rolling stock strikes another train, rolling stock, obstruction, person or other object or is struck by another object.
Includes:
- Running line collisions that occur in the normal movement of a train on a running line.
- Yard collisions that occur in yards or sidings or on closed running lines.
Excludes:
- Any collision (except train to train) that occurs at a level crossing (would be covered under the definition of "level crossing" occurrence).
- Suspected or attempted suicides.
Collision between trains
Includes:
- Any type of train
- Any type of rolling stock
- Open rolling stock door
- Load shift
- Other loading irregularity
Train hits person
Collision with any person who at the time of the occurrence is not in, on, boarding, alighting or falling from a train.
Excludes:
- Suspected suicide
- Person struck in a 'level crossing occurrence'
Train hits animal
Collision with animals that result in damage to rolling stock or infrastructure or cause or might have caused the death or injury to a person.
Includes:
- Farm livestock that have entered upon the track and been hit.
- Other animals that caused damage or personal injury or were large enough to cause damage or personal injury.
Train hits infrastructure
Includes buffer stops.
Train hits obstruction on line
Collision with any object that poses a danger to the safe passage of trains.
Includes:
- Landslide
- Fallen tree
- Shopping trolley
- Objects liable to pose a danger would include, for example, sleepers rail off-cuts, fish-plates, significant quantities of concrete materials, and equipment or freight fallen from trains
Thrown object hits train
Any impact by an object that fell or was thrown that hits a moving train.
Train hits road vehicle (excluding level crossing incidents)
Any collision with a road vehicle except at a level crossing.
Other collision
Anything that does not fit one of the above categories.
Collision with road vehicle at level crossing
A train colliding with a road vehicle at a level crossing.
Crossings with active warning devices
Control of the movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic across a railway level crossing by devices such as flashing light signals, bells or other audible warning devices, gates or barriers, or a combination of these, where the device is actuated prior to and during the passage of a train through the crossing.
Crossing with passive warning devices
Control of the movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic across a railway level crossing by signs or devices, none of which are activated during the approach or passage of a train, and which rely on the road user detecting the approach or presence of a train by direct observation.
Unprotected level crossing
No active or passive warning of any kind provided. Usually a field or farm crossing (occupational crossing).
Collision with person at level crossing
A person struck by a train at a level crossing. See different types of crossing listed above.
SPADs
Signals passed at danger (SPAD) - where a train passes without authority a signal displaying a stop indication or stop aspect - rarely result in incidents such as derailments or collisions. Under the ON-S1 system, SPADs deemed to have caused accidents are removed from the SPAD category and reported under the relevant incident.
SPADs can occur when a signal is blacked out, excluding hand signals, point indicators, radio signals and proceed authority exceedence. They are categorised below.
Technical SPADS: Where a proceed signal changes to stop in the face of a driver giving insufficient time for the train to brake to a stop prior to passing the signal at danger.
Includes:
- Where signal equipment fails (including lightning strike, power surge)
- Where the controller changes the signal to stop.
Broken rail
A fracture of the rail including a broken joint or weld, or detachment of a piece from the rail which necessitates an immediate stoppage of traffic or the immediate imposition of a speed restriction lower than that currently in force.
Buckled track
A buckle of a railway line involving misalignment which results in an immediate stoppage of traffic or the immediate imposition of a speed restriction lower than that already in force.
Explosion
An explosion affecting rail infrastructure or rolling stock or which has the potential to affect the safe operation of a railway.
Includes:
- Explosion in or on a train whether in motion or not.
- Explosion in or on railway infrastructure.
- Explosion on properties adjacent to the railway which causes damage or which has the potential to affect the running of a railway, even though they may occur in commercial premises and be subject to separate reporting requirements.
- Crankcase explosions.
- Violent release of liquefied petroleum gas or anhydrous ammonia.
- Detonation of material carried by or transported by rail; detonations resulting from mishaps during loading or unloading operations, and those caused by fire aboard on track equipment.
Fire
(Includes in trains, near railway lines and other)
A fire affecting rail infrastructure or rolling stock or which has the potential to affect the safe operation of a railway.
Includes:
- Fire in or on a train whether in motion or not.
- Fire in or on railway infrastructure.
- Fires on properties adjacent to the railway which causes damage or which has the potential to affect the running of a railway, even though they may occur in commercial premises and be subject to separate reporting requirements.
- Incidents where smoke/fumes penetrate passenger accommodation, necessitating evacuation of the passengers from the vehicle(s) concerned where there is no evidence of actual fire.
- Severe electrical arcing or fusing where there is evidence of fire damage.
- Any fire affecting the permanent way or works of a railway system are reportable where they necessitate the suspension of services over any line, or the closure of any part of a station or signal box or other railway premises.
Fatalities
Fatalities are defined as deaths resulting from incidents on the rail network where the person died within 30 days of the incident. The most common fatality is to trespassers on the rail network. A trespasser is considered to be anyone who does not have a specified reason for being on the rail network such as work (employee or contractor), travel (passenger), customer enquiry or using a level crossing (public).