Report highlights runaway wagon safety concerns

The wagon escaped in May last year

An investigation into a runaway wagon has identified insufficient contractor expertise and a lack of safety leadership from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as contributing factors.

The empty wagon ran away from the MoD sidings at Kineton munitions depot in Warwickshire in May 2023 due to insufficient brakes to restrain it, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said.

It passed over two farm crossings and a level crossing on a public road before stopping, nobody was hurt in the incident.

The RAIB made five recommendations in its findings.

The wagon was kept on a gradient and managed to become free at about 21:00 BST on 25 May, after staff had left site for the day.

They returned the following day and noticed that the wagon was missing and that the sidings’ gate appeared to be open.

The investigation found that the wagon, owned by DB Cargo and leased out, ran away because it was stabled on a gradient, with insufficient brake force to restrain it and without a system to prevent it from leaving the sidings.

As well contractors not having sufficient expertise to properly manage the risk of rail operations at the site and safety leadership flaws, the level of oversight by safety regulators meant that the lack of safety leadership within MoD rail operations was not identified and addressed, the RAIB said.

Facilities used by DB cargo staff to carry out safety-critical maintenance activities were not well suited for the task, it said.

Among its five recommendations, the RAIB stated that the MoD should review its current rail operations safety arrangements and work with regulators

DB Cargo was told to review its maintenance procedures for the type of wagon and ensure wagon brake components are scheduled for replacement at the end of their designed life.