List of rail accidents in the United Kingdom
1948–1994: British Railways/Rail

List of rail accidents in the United Kingdom

Section Title: 1948–1994: British Railways/Rail
Table Section Text: None

Date	Killed	Injured	Type	Details

17 April 1948	24	30	Winsford rail accident (1948), Cheshire: Glasgow to Euston train was stopped by passenger inappropriately pulling communication cord. Following train hit stopped train due to a signalman's error.

19 May 1948	8	34	Wath Road Junction: Buckled track derailed locomotive; train rolled down embankment.

30 November 1948	5	36	Stockport Viaduct, Cheshire/Lancashire: In dense fog, a stationary passenger train from Manchester to Crewe and Disley was run into by following passenger train from Manchester to Buxton, which had passed a signal at danger.

16 December 1948	1	Mangotsfield: A 16-year old railway employee was hit by a mail train.

23 June 1949	0	7	Train fire near Penmanshiel Tunnel: two coaches of Edinburgh to King's Cross express destroyed by fire.

30 September 1949	1	Mangotsfield: A train fireman was hit by an express train.

13 May 1950	0	68	Preston, Lancashire: Passenger train from Southport collided with a stationary light engine after passing signals at danger

8 June 1950	5	0	near Beattock Summit: Fire on train.

27 August 1950	6	35	Penmaenmawr crash (1950), north Wales: Up Irish Mail sleeper train from Holyhead to Euston collided with shunting locomotive at night due to signalman's error.

7 September 1950	3	1	Hopworthy, Holsworthy, Devon: Train hit tractor on farm crossing.

16 March 1951	14	29	Doncaster rail crash, West Riding: Southbound express passenger train to London King's Cross partly derailed on a poorly maintained crossover shortly after leaving Doncaster, one coach destroyed.

17 August 1951	3	41	Newcastle rail crash between electric units due to starting when signal at danger.

21 September 1951	15	26	Weedon crash (1951), Northamptonshire: Jammed locomotive axlebox caused derailment of Liverpool Lime Street to Euston passenger train at speed

18 April 1952	0	34	Blea Moor (Settle-Carlisle Line): Brake rod on locomotive tender detached and derailed train.

8 October 1952	112	340	Harrow and Wealdstone rail disaster, Middlesex: driver ignored signals, his train struck the rear of a stationary train, a third train travelling in the opposite direction struck the wreckage.

25 October 1952	0	3	Crewkerne: Brake rod on locomotive tender detached and debris flew through coach.

5 May 1953	6	0	Ystrad Caron level-crossing near Tregaron: van with six occupants on crossing hit by non-scheduled train.

15 August 1953	10	58	Irk Valley Junction rail crash near Manchester: 5-car EMU train collided with steam-hauled train at Irk Valley Junction, Collyhurst, caused by a signalman's error and driver inattention.

28 October 1953	0	1	Goswick derailment: Glasgow to Colchester express passenger train derailed at Goswick.

17 December 1953	1	1	Longniddry station: A section of track fell off a down freight train on to the up line derailing 12:41 am parcel train from Edinburgh to Kings Cross.

23 January 1955	17	43	Sutton Coldfield rail crash: Train on diversionary route, pilot driver with route knowledge was unfamiliar with type of locomotive, speed on curve, train strewn over platforms.

28 May 1955	3	40	Wormit, Fife: Train derailed at excessive speed in tunnel, overturning onto a platform at Wormit Station. Locomotive fireman and two passengers on footplate killed.

20 November 1955	11	157	Milton rail crash, Oxfordshire: Passenger train from Treherbert to London Paddington derailed whilst passing over a crossover at excessive speed.

2 December 1955	13	35	Barnes rail crash: rear-end collision because signalman error.

22 December 1955	1	50	Luton station accident (1955): Northbound passenger train in rear-end collision with stationary northbound passenger train.

6 September 1956	0	3	Ludlow, Shropshire: Collision due to driver error.

7 January 1957	1	25	Welwyn Garden City rail crash (1957), Hertfordshire: Signals ignored in fog, rear-end collision with another passenger train.

9 February 1957	2	Chapel-en-le-Frith rail crash, Derbyshire: Runaway freight train rear-end collision with another freight train due to brake failure. Deceased driver of runaway train posthumously awarded George Cross.

4 December 1957	90	173	Lewisham rail crash, south-east London: Missed signals in fog, rear-end collision with another passenger train. Overbridge fell on wreckage when bridge's abutment was struck by derailing locomotive and coaches.

30 January 1958	10	89	Dagenham East rail crash: Signal passed at danger in thick fog by passenger train, rear-end collision with preceding passenger train

4 July 1958	0	45	Maze Hill station: Signal passed at danger, head-on collision of 4-car EMU from Gravesend Central to Charing Cross with 9-coach empty passenger stock train being shunted by a steam locomotive

25 August 1958	5	41	Eastbourne station rail crash, 22 serious injuries, 19 minor: Sleeper train from Glasgow passed signal at danger, collided head-on with 12-car EMU from Ore to London Bridge as the latter is leaving platform at the station.

19 November 1958	0	5	Hitchin rail crash, No fatalities, 5 minor injuries: The 3:25am London to Peterborough freight train collided with the rear of the 2:28am London to Peterborough freight train which had been held at the down main 'Home' signal.

26 October 1959	0	22	Ardsley: Collision due to inadequate signaling arrangements.

21 January 1960	5	9	Settle rail crash: Locomotive slide bar fell off due to failed bolts; connecting rod became detached destroying adjacent track; oncoming goods train derailed into side of passenger train.

24 November 1960	2	26	Between Pontrhydyfen and Cwmavon, Glamorgan: Head-on collision between 3-car passenger DMU travelling from Swansea High Street to Barry Island and a runaway steam-hauled goods train.

2 December 1960	4	1	North Belton level-crossing, near Dunbar, East Lothian: Car with five occupants hit by two freight trains on a level-crossing.

8 February 1961	0	6	Royton, Lancashire: Runaway train crashed through buffers and demolished a pair of terraced houses.

13 February 1961	3	7	Baschurch, Shropshire: Signalman's error caused collision between passenger train travelling at 40–45 mph and freight train locomotive that was shunting its wagons into a siding.

18 April 1961	2	42	Pitsea, Essex: steam-hauled passenger train from London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness overturned after running over catch points.

16 July 1961	7	116	Singleton Bank rail crash, Weeton, Lancashire: signalman let train enter section of line under engineer's possession, collided with ballast train.

3 June 1962	3	7	Lincoln rail crash: Excess speed on curve.

26 December 1962	18	34	Coppenhall Junction rail disaster, Cheshire: Express hit a second express from the rear. Driver passed signal at danger as phone was out of order, hit stationary train in next section.

25 January 1963	2	3	Bracebridge Gas Sidings, Lincoln: 2-car DMU travelling from Grantham to Lincoln Central collided with a stationary steam locomotive.

31 July 1963	1	2	Between Picton and Welbury, North Riding: Freight train ran into the back of another freight train due to a signal passed at danger.

15 August 1963	3	3	Knowle and Dorridge rail crash: Pullman train from Birmingham Snow Hill to London Paddington ran into freight train being shunted across its path due to signalman's error.

6 December 1963	2	2	Stanton Gate, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire: two freight trains collided due one passing a signal at danger.

13 December 1963	1	31	Shoreditch, east London: Rear coach of a Liverpool Street to Gidea Park train derailed shortly after leaving terminus and is struck by a train travelling in the opposite direction.

5 March 1964	2	0	Itchingfield Junction, West Sussex: Collision between up goods train (Brighton to Three Bridges, diverted via Steyning line), which overran signals, and down goods train (Three Bridges to Chichester)

28 May 1964	3	27	Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire: Train derailed crossing a temporary railway bridge over road widening work at well in excess of the temporary 10 mph speed limit.

3 June 1964	3	17	Bradford Exchange station, West Riding: Driver of DMU train suffered heart attack, train ran out of control on steep downhill approach to station and collided with a stationary mail train at platform.

25 June 1964	1	4	Nantwich station level-crossing, Nantwich, Cheshire: Express passenger train from Plymouth to Manchester passed signal at danger and crashed through level-crossing gates into 2 road vehicles.

5 October 1964	0	1	Finsbury Park: Two passenger trains collided in dense fog when the green signal was given in error. The trains were the 08:20 Kings Cross - Doncaster and 09:00 Kings Cross - Newcastle.

10 October 1964	1	4	Millbrook, Bedfordshire: Eight-car DMU from St. Pancras to Bedford travelling at 60 mph when a fire broke out under the last coach.

11 January 1965	1	2	Coton Hill rail crash, Shrewsbury: Driver of goods train failed to obey stop sign, derailed on trap points and crashed through Coton Hill signal box.

29 March 1965	2	15	Elm Park, near Dagenham, Essex: Derailment- Unknown persons placed obstruction on line, derailed London Fenchurch St. to Shoeburyness passenger train travelling at 70 mph

20 May 1965	0	11	Hest Bank, Lancashire: Derailment caused by broken rail.

4 September 1965	1	5	Holyhead station, Anglesey: local passenger train from Bangor collided with stationary boat train to Euston due to inattention and lack of caution of driver and fireman.

22 September 1965	3	8	Roundstone level-crossing, Angmering, Sussex: In thick fog a 4-car EMU passenger train crashed through crossing gates, closed across line in error by crossing keeper, and collided with a Southdown double-deck bus traversing the crossing, pushing it 54 yards along the track.

17 December 1965	2	0	Bridgend, Glamorgan: Locomotive derailed due to landslide whilst hauling train of empty passenger coaches, and this in turn was run into by a freight train.

13 May 1966	2	5	Acton Grange Junction, Warrington, Cheshire: Rear section of moving freight train became uncoupled on gradient in the dark and ran downhill into an oncoming London Euston to Stranraer boat train, killing the driver and co-driver of the latter train.

28 February 1967	9	16	Stechford rail crash, Birmingham: Misunderstood hand signal coupled with an unauthorised movement of a diesel locomotive crossing the running lines into the path of multiple unit passenger train travelling at 60 mph.

5 March 1967	5	18	Connington South rail crash, Huntingdonshire: Signal operator wilfully defeated interlocking and moved facing points while passenger train was passing over them.

11 July 1967	0	13	Maidstone East station, Kent: Freight train passed signal at danger and ran into rear of stationary passenger train; error by guard resulted in inadequate brake power; excessive speed.

31 July 1967	7	45	Thirsk rail crash (1967): Derailment of the rear portion of a freight train led to wagon fouling adjacent track, passenger express ran into wagon at approximately 50 mph.

27 September 1967	1	23	Foxhall Junction, Didcot: Derailment caused by train driver driving at excessive speed through crossover. (O. S. Nock was a passenger).

5 November 1967	49	78	Hither Green rail crash: Hastings to Charing Cross train derailed at 70 mph due to broken rail.

6 January 1968	11	27	Hixon rail crash, Staffordshire: Express passenger train collided at level crossing with road-transporter carrying 110-ton transformer.

11 March 1968	2	1	Peterborough North: Freight train ran into back of another freight train due to driver error.

23 March 1968	2	1	Hatfield, Hertfordshire: Train driver error caused freight train to crash through buffers on a spur line and into an over-line bridge abutment at about 30 mph.

16 April 1968	5	0	Beckingham, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire: Stalled car hit by train on half barrier level-crossing situated between Gainsborough Trent junction and Beckingham (the crossing was subsequently closed and a by-pass built).

12 June 1968	2	10	Sandridge, Hertfordshire: Fire on diesel multiple unit after gearbox failure damaged fuel tank; poor maintenance.

9 September 1968	2	3	Castlecary, Stirlingshire: Locomotive running light ran into the back of a stationary six-car DMU standing at a signal.

4 January 1969	4	11	Marden rail crash, Marden, Kent: Express passenger train ran past signal at danger in fog and collided with parcels train.

8 March 1969	2	45	Ashchurch, Gloucestershire: Bristol to Newcastle upon Tyne express passenger train hit part of a freight train which was derailing due to travelling at excess speed.

8 April 1969	2	30	Monmore Green, Wolverhampton: Freight train struck head-on by a passenger train which passed signal at danger; subsequent fire.

7 May 1969	6	121	Morpeth rail crash (1969), Northumberland: Driver inattention led to night sleeper train derailing on tight curve at excessive speed (80 mph).

31 December 1969	1	9	Roade Junction, Northamptonshire: 4-car Coventry to London Euston EMU passenger train collided with a derailed freight train.

20 May 1970	2	13	Audenshaw Junction rail crash, Lancashire: Points changed under train; signalman tampered with equipment to speed up working.

26 February 1971	1	13	Sheerness-on-Sea, Kent: 10 coach EMU passenger train overran buffers, 13 on train injured, woman waiting in booking hall killed. Driver taken ill.

18 May 1971	2	1	Middlesbrough, North Riding: Freight train ran into rear of stationary freight train standing at a signal having not been warned by signalman, who should have refused permission to enter that section, of latter's presence.

2 July 1971	2	26	Tattenhall Junction, near Chester, Cheshire: School excursion train derailed; buckled track.

8 May 1972	0	2	Chester General station rail crash, Chester, Cheshire: Freight train vacuum brakes not connected, runaway train hit empty passenger stock in station.

1 June 1972	6	126	Eltham Well Hall rail crash, south-east London: Excessive speed on curve: driver intoxicated, assistant driver lacked route knowledge.

16 December 1972	0	11	Copyhold Junction, just north of Haywards Heath on London to Brighton Line: Slow train from Haywards Heath passed signal at danger, moving onto through line from local line, struck by Victoria-bound fast train.

30 August 1973	5	51	Shields Junction near Glasgow: Collision between two passenger trains followed by fire; no clear cause - driver possibly suffered heart attack.

19 December 1973	10	94	Ealing rail crash, west London: Battery box door fell open, hit lineside equipment which operated points under train.

11 June 1974	1	35	Pollokshields East, Glasgow: EMU passenger train passed signal at danger and collided with DMU passenger train; driver error.

23 January 1975	1	11	Watford Junction rail crash, Hertfordshire: Express derailed by a steel stillage that had fallen from freight train, then hit by another express.

6 June 1975	6	67	Nuneaton rail crash, Warwickshire: Excessive speed caused derailment of sleeper train. Temporary speed limit equipment faulty and inattention by driver.

26 October 1975	1	41	Lunan Bay, Angus: Collision of recovery locomotive and failed train (10.15 Aberdeen to London King's Cross). Confusion over exact location of failed train and excessive speed.

3 January 1976	2	2	Worcester Tunnel Junction, Worcester: Locomotive running light runs into the rear of a parcels train due to driver failure to comply with signalman's instructions.

3 December 1976	1	8	Chivers Occupation level-crossing, Cambridgeshire: Passenger train collided with lorry on unmanned level crossing.

2 July 1977	0	0	Between Wolverton and Bletchley. Derailment of express parcels train due to undetected continuous-welded rail buckle in hot weather.

5 September 1977	2	10	Farnley Junction, Leeds: Signalling problems resulting from technical work by engineering staff lead to head-on collision between passenger train and mail train.

6 July 1978	12	19	Taunton train fire, Somerset: Dirty linen stacked against electric heater, (victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning); locked doors.

19 December 1978	3	57	Between Hassocks and Preston Park, Sussex: Train ran into rear of another due to incorrect passing of both a caution signal and next signal (showing no aspect), as per rule book requirements.

1 March 1979	3	5	Naas level-crossing, Lydney, Gloucestershire: Lorry crossed unmanned level-crossing in front of Cardiff to Newcastle upon Tyne passenger train travelling at 60 mph.

25 February 1979	1	9	Hilsea, Portsea Island: Train struck overhanging crane on adjacent track.

16 April 1979	7	67	Paisley Gilmour Street rail crash, Renfrewshire: Inattention by driver ("ding-ding, and away"); head-on collision.

13 August 1979	0	2	Bushbury Junction, West Midlands: Camshaft failure of a switch diamond crossing caused the approaching Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham International express to derail at around 35 mph, train lightly loaded.

22 October 1979	5	52	Invergowrie rail crash, Perth and Kinross: Train stopped due to traction motor fire, following train ran into rear, poorly maintained signalling equipment.

16 February 1980	0	48	Bushey, Hertfordshire: On a section of continuous welded rail a welded joint failed. 20:25 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly derailed at 96 mph.

9 July 1980	0	21	Holborn rail crash, central London: Inattention by driver, signal passed at danger, rear-end collision.

7 November 1980	2	1	Crewe, Cheshire: Freight train ran into rear of another freight train for reasons unknown.

8 December 1981	1	23	Ulleskelf, East Riding: Broken rail lead to derailment of York to Liverpool passenger train. Two rearmost coaches rolled down steep embankment.

11 December 1981	4	5	Seer Green rail crash, Buckinghamshire: Signalman misread equipment, excess speed after driver authorised to pass signal at danger, rear-end collision.

4 May 1982	0	31	Nairn's level-crossing, Forteviot, Perth & Kinross: Agricultural tractor and trailer grounded on farm crossing hit by express passenger train at 55 mph.

9 December 1982	1	2	Linslade Tunnel, West Coast main line. At 2am a north bound passenger train derailed when it struck permanent way material that had fallen from a previous train.

3 February 1983	1	12	Elgin, Moray: Broken rail leads to derailment of Aberdeen to Inverness passenger train, rearmost coach turned on its side and slid about 100 metres.

9 December 1983	1	3	Wrawby Junction rail crash, Lincolnshire: Passenger DMU train hit and partially derailed by freight train mistakenly signalled to proceed whilst line ahead in use by passenger train.

24 June 1984	0	35	Morpeth rail crash, Northumberland: Excessive speed, sleeping car train derailed, driver intoxicated.

30 July 1984	13	44	Polmont rail crash, near Falkirk: Leading DBSO of Edinburgh to Glasgow train hit stray cow on line, whole train derailed.

11 October 1984	3	18	Wembley Central rail crash, London: Collision due to signal passed at danger. Driver mentally incapacitated by medical condition.

23 November 1984	0	3	Paddington Station approaches, London: Excessive speed approaching Paddington. Penzance-Paddington sleeper derailed, locomotive 50041 extensively damaged.

4 December 1984	3	68	Eccles rail crash (1984), Greater Manchester: Signal passed at danger, rear-end collision.

20 December 1984	0	0	Summit tunnel fire, Todmorden, West Yorkshire: Faulty axle box caused derailment of petrol tank wagons in tunnel, fire burned for over 36 hours.

31 May 1985	0	104	Battersea Park Station, London: Gatwick Express passenger train passed signal at danger in fine, sunny conditions and ran into rear of commuter train that was accelerating away from another signal at which it had been held.

6 November 1985	0	40	Copyhold Junction, near Haywards Heath, Sussex: 4-car EMU passenger train passed signal at danger at night, passed over points and collided head-on with another 4-car EMU passenger train travelling in opposite direction.

9 March 1986	1	31	Chinley, Derbyshire: Multiple errors by inexperienced signalman led to passenger train being sent onto line where two coupled locomotives were waiting.

15 June 1986	0	2	Motherwell: Defective and poorly maintained track coupled with hot weather. At approximately 16.31 the 16.10 Glasgow Central to London Euston passenger train became derailed on the approach to Motherwell Station.

26 July 1986	9	11	Lockington rail crash, East Yorkshire: Road vehicle on level-crossing.

19 September 1986	1	60	Colwich rail crash, Staffordshire: Head-on collision at converging route. Driver misread signals after failing to read a notification regarding recent signalling changes.

11 September 1986	2	2	Bridgeton, Glasgow: 2 empty passenger trains collided in tunnel during shunting movement killing 2 crew. Signaller cleared signal for reversing train which did not pass signal after 5 minutes, then set new route for incoming train.

16 October 1986	23	Kensal Green rail crash: British rail Class 313 collided with rear of Bakerloo line train following driver's misinterpretation of a signal.

19 October 1987	4	River Towy rail crash, near Llandeilo: flood washed bridge away; train fell into river.

October 1987	0	14	Forest Gate, London: two trains collided.

11 November 1988	1	16	St. Helens rail crash, Merseyside: Train derailed leaving station.

12 December 1988	35	484	Clapham Junction rail crash, London: Rear-end collision, oncoming train ran into wreckage: wrong-side signalling failure due to wiring error.

4 March 1989	5	88	Purley Station rail crash, London: Missed distant signal, overshot signal at danger; rear-end collision, part of train down embankment.

6 March 1989	2	Glasgow Bellgrove rail crash: Inattention by driver ("ding-ding, and away"); head-on collision.

5 August 1989	0	West Ealing: Train collided with a piece of rail left on the track, probably by vandals, and the locomotive was derailed.

30 November 1989	0	15	Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Two expresses collided outside the station.

4 August 1990	1	36	Stafford rail crash (1990): Train signalled into an occupied section, rear-end collision, alcohol and excessive working hours possible causes.

8 January 1991	2	542	Cannon Street Station rail crash, London: Passenger train hit buffer stop.

21 July 1991	4	22	Newton (South Lanarkshire) rail accident, Glasgow: head-on collision at junction.

3 December 1991	0	1	Appleford level crossing, near Didcot. Road vehicle on crossing.

7 December 1991	0	186	Severn Tunnel rail crash: Rear-end collision, cause uncertain.

13 November 1992	1	0	Morpeth rail crash 1992, Northumberland: Light engine hit train in rear, driver misunderstood signaller's instruction.

6 September 1993	0	1	Maidstone East, Kent: Derailment due to driver error, excessive speed.

25 June 1994	2	0	Greenock rail crash: Train derailed by vandals placing concrete blocks on track.

27 July 1994	0	1	Morpeth rail crash 1994, Northumberland: excessive speed on curve.

15 October 1994	5	13	Cowden rail crash, Kent: Signal passed at danger; head-on collision.

Sentence(s)

In Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of United Kingdom, there were 112 people killed and 340 injured.

final_sentence: In Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of United Kingdom, there were 112 people killed and 340 injured.