Newsletter 130 - Rail accidents claim more public victims than passengers
Members of the public accounted for the majority of rail accident fatalities in two following years. The bulk of the fatal accidents were caused when people were struck during train movements.
Some 887 people were killed in various railway accidents in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years, according to the Railway Safety Regulator. Victims include railway contractors, railway employees, passengers, and members of the public.
In 2007/08, some 421 out of 453 fatalities (93%) were accounted for by members of the public. Of the 434 victims who died during railway accidents in the following financial year, 382 (88%) were members of the public.
In both financial years, employees made up one percent of railway accident victims, while railway contractors accounted for just under a percent of fatalities. The proportion of passenger deaths rose from 5% to 10%.
The various types of rail accidents include collisions and derailments, electric shocks, level crossing incidents, accidents involving people and stations, and persons struck during train movements. The latter type of accident accounted for the majority of railway accident fatalities.
In 2007/08, some 87% of fatalities occurred when people were struck during train movements. The proportion of deaths caused in this manner dropped in the following financial year but still accounted for the majority of rail accidents at 79%.
- Kerwin Lebone
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