[6] The accident had tripped the high-voltage feed to the traction current. A 250-page report on the findings of the accident inquiry, chaired by Anthony Hidden QC, found faulty wiring had caused an incorrect signal to be displayed to a train driver, who was driving into a blind bend and had no chance to stop. At 08:13 on 12 December 1988 faulty wiring and signalling caused three trains to collide in Clapham. Please consider donating to help with our running costs. Green, north London. If a patient needs major surgery this can only be carried out by a consultant who has significant experience in that field, you wouldnt want a knee surgeon operating on your eye for example. That was until it approached a green signal which suddenly flickered to red without warning. Thank you for sharing. Bryan Tompson, a 61-year-old freelance engineer from Ampney Crucis, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, who leaves a wife, four children and six grandchildren. [17] In particular, a wire count that would have identified that a wire had not been removed was not carried out. Ariel view of the crash site alongside Spencer Park, The young rescuers from the Emanuel School were praised by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and visited by the Secretary of State for Education who thanked them personally for Their immense courage and maturity.. Although this Accident was a rather major incident on British Railways, the Wikipedia Article of which is rather lacking in the details given by Hidden's Report. As a result, the technician who carried out the work had done so on voluntary overtime. [30], The Basingstoke train stopped at the next signal after the faulty signal, in accordance with the rule book. He picked up the receiver and spoke to the signalman, informing him of the collision and asking him to call the emergency services. Further Research Antonio Lacovara, a 24-year-old graphic designer from Hither Green, The train drivers' union Aslef held a separate wreath-laying event and two-minute silence at the Spencer Park memorial at 08:13, to mark the exact moment the crash happened. Genealogy For other inquiries, Contact Us. List name. However, he was told there was nothing wrong with the signal at this point the Bournemouth train struck the back of the Basingstoke train at around 40mph. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. "At 8:10 a.m. on the morning of Monday, 12 December 1988, a crowded commuter train ran head-on into the rear of another which was stationary in a cutting just south of Clapham Junction station. The crash, just south of Clapham Junction station, killed 35 people and left almost 500 injured. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Engineer Chris Reeves, 38, who had been in the buffet car of the Bournemouth train, told reporters: We were doing 60-70mph when there was this almighty explosion. It remains the worst mainline train crash in terms of fatalities in the last 56 years. Network Rail said the Waterloo crash was "a wake-up call". company, who described him as "enthusiastic and dedicated", two months before the crash. Several victims of the Clapham Rail Disaster were pictured in the news the following day. He had been on his way to new job in the City. However some were so badly injured that they required emergency procedures at the scene. Survivors and families paid their respects to the dead and almost 500 injured people at a . On the day, two commuter trains, carrying an estimated 1,300 passengers between them, collided just outside the station. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. You just dont anticipate something like this happening on your own doorstep, it was one of those unbelievable moments. ", 27th September 1989Investigation into the Clapham Junction Railway Accident, 2nd March 1992A Report of the Collision that Occurred on 8 January 1991 at Cannon Street Station. The Clapham Junction rail crash on 12 December 1988 claimed the lives of 35 people. A two-minute silence has been held to remember 35 people who died in the Clapham rail crash 25 years ago. Management was to ensure that no one was working high levels of overtime,[20] and a senior project manager made responsible for all aspects of the project. Bournemouth train driver John Rolls with wife Susan, His father Charlie told the Echo then: He was a go-ahead whizz kid. [26] Although British Rail was fined 250,000 (equivalent to 571,000 in 2021[27]) for breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. He had two children, aged three and six. Twenty-two of the people killed were from Dorset and the New Forest . The operator in the nearby Raynes Park electrical control room suspected there had been a derailment and re-configured the supply so that the nearby Wimbledon line trains could still run. Mark I carriages have to be used instead of the newer, safer Mark III. [3][4], As a result of the collisions, 35 people died, and 69 were seriously injured. He had no control over automatic signals, however, and was not able to stop the fourth train. 6.30am: Passengers who usually catch the 6.14am Poole to London train have to get on at Bournemouth because of the previous nights disruption. Faulty wiring and an incorrect signal caused the 1988 crash at Clapham Junction Wreaths have been laid and a minute's silence held to remember the 35 people killed in a train crash in south. Hi I visited my sister the night before because of this she decided not to take that train but our late friend Jane did. Ms Robinson went on to join Disaster Action to help other people affected by tragedies like the one she experienced. I think people felt we really did care.. I went to work the next day and burst out in tears as I was decorating the room. Lee Middleton a survivor on the Bournemouth train- described the moment: I heard a deafening noise and then all hell let loose. In that incident, a pair of redundant points had been left in an unsafe condition and undetectable by the signalling system. [10] The last casualty was taken to hospital at 13:04 and the last body was removed at 15:45. There was a public inquiry chaired by Lord Justice Hidden. What was the outcome of the investigation? By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Footage found on a VHS. The Poole train then veered and hit an empty oncoming train. It had made me realise how precious life is, says Lee, who now lives in Winchester. They are well-written and thoroughly researched. He created the new human rights and equality commission in the province. Clapham Rail Disaster Anniversary - PA Images "I still remember it like it was yesterday.". A London-bound commuter train, travelling from Bournemouth, crashed into the back of another service near Clapham Junction. He had lived with his girlfriend for 10 years. IT is almost 30 years since a crowded passenger train crashed into another train at Clapham Junction railway station in London, killing 35 people. Talk:Clapham Junction rail crash - Wikipedia They were all travelling in the front two coaches of the first train. Married caretaker Robert Cotton, 41, of Rednock School, Dursley, Gloucestershire, who also worked as a local councillor. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Bill Webb, a 39-year-old accountant, died on an operating table after the accident. News Stories The driver of the Bournemouth train, John Rolls, had not stood a chance. He was travelling to London for a national executive meeting of trade union Unison. https://beetleypete.wordpress.com/2013/06/22/ambulance-stories-41/ Is climate change killing Australian wine? I never saw this article until now, but it was a good piece and was nice to see that it and he are still remembered. The Clapham Junction railway crash occurred on the morning of 12 December 1988, when a crowded British Rail passenger train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped at a signal just south of Clapham Junction railway station in London, England, and subsequently sideswiped an empty train travelling in the opposite direction. [11] Work associated with the Waterloo Area Resignalling Scheme meant new wiring had been installed,[12] but the old wiring had been left connected at one end, and loose and uninsulated at the other. Alongside personnel from Londons emergency services- including doctors who performed a number of operations and amputations on site, the greatest heroes that day were pupils from the Emanuel School which is located on the embankment overlooking the disaster zone. The married father-of-two was described as "extremely successful, very intelligent", who would always do what he could do help people. John Bowis, who was the MP for Battersea at the time, said he drove to the "awful scene of carnage" as soon as he heard the news. Mrs Ship said: "Dad was a train driver and was in the train cab travelling to work as he knew the driver.". The Bournemouth train ploughed into the Basingstoke service, killing John and many others instantly. [14] The re-signalling project had been planned assuming more people were available, but employees felt that the programme was inflexible and that they were under pressure to get the work done. British Rail was fined 250,000 for violations of health and safety law over the crash which has been described as the worst train accident of recent times. The signalling technician who had done the work had not cut back, insulated, nor tied back the loose wire and his work had not been supervised, nor inspected by an independent person as was required. Unable to stop in time, the driver- Alexander McClymont halted the train in a cutting on Wandsworth Common, just before Battersea Rise and about half a mile south of Clapham Junction station, where he climbed down from the cab and used a trackside telephone to inform the nearest signal box of the problem. We started pulling people out through the window.. Your email address will not be published. Sure I could cut out some of the Information that is a bit laborious (Like a description of the Relay Room,, the Trains that passed the Signal previously I'd say could have been removed almost entirely) but the rest of it I'd say was completely fair. This document was published on 27th September 1989 by His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The clear up effort after the crash which claimed the lives of 35 people. I'll try and make a better article soon-ish and get it to be relatively shorter then my previous attempt. Clapham Junction rail crash: Tributes paid 30 years on An independent inquiry into the crash was set up by the Department of Transport, chaired by Anthony Hidden QC. The driver of a fourth train approaching the crash site saw the wreckage and managed to come to a stop behind the other two trains at the signal which should have stopped the train to protect them. Derek Antonowitz, a 25-year-old South Africa-born computer consultant from Willesden These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. I met all these people who were involved or affected in different ways and I decided I was going to have them all to the Mayors Parlour in the New Year. David Brand Roberts, 35, of Swindon, [], This is an amazing piece of work. Monday December 1 Are lessons from Clapham Junction disaster 'fading' from the rail sector? Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? John Northcott, 24, a graduate working in the IT industry, of Leyton, east London. Over 400 people were also injured, 70 seriously, after three trains smashed into . Clapham's legacy After the crash, an inquiry led to a number of . Simon Edward. 8.09am: The driver of the 7.18am Basingstoke to Watereloo train notices a signal near Clapham Junction change suddenly from green to red. ATP, which governs speeds and automatically stops trains at red signals, was deemed too expensive to install prior to rail privatisation in 1993. [] The late 1980s were notable for a relentless string of disasters which affected Britain; the Zeebrugge ferry capsize, the Kings Cross fire, the Piper Alpha oil platform explosion, the Hillsborough Disaster and, as seen recently on this site, the Clapham rail crash. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Clapham Junction rail crash memorial - Virtual Globetrotting Some of the walking injured were treated at nearby Emanuel School. [21] Unprotected wrong side signal failures where the failure permitted a train to go beyond where it was permitted had to be reported to the Railway Inspectorate. A special service has taken place to remember the victims of the Clapham rail disaster 25 years ago today. I just hope that what I did helped because thats what was needed at the time help. Clapham Junction rail crash 1988: Events remember the dead The Clapham Junction rail crash was a multiple train collision just outside Clapham Junction railway station in London that occurred at 08:10 on 12 December 1988. The government at the time would not commit to the cost, but the simpler Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) has since been installed across the network, but this system is still unable to stop trains travelling at more than 75mph from passing through a red signal. He was from Gavdik in Police were continuing to check his personal details, such as age and address, Dr Knapman added. Young police constable Ian Moore visited Clapham two days after the crash to lay a wreath near the spot where his 28-year-old wife Alison was killed. I phoned his parents when I heard of the crash and they gave me the sad news that he had been on the train. The Clapham Junction rail crash on 12 December 1988 claimed the lives of 35 people. Further Reading Ms Robinson went on to join Disaster Action to help other people affected by tragedies like the one she experienced. [18] There had been inadequate training, assessment, supervision and testing and, with a lack of understanding of the risks of signalling failure, these were not monitored effectively. However, after three further fatal crashes caused by red signals being passed, calls were once again made to install it across the UK in 2002.