FRACTURED rail fastenings and ineffective asset management led to the derailment of an intermodal train at Eastleigh on January 28 last year, according to a Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report.
The main line from Basingstoke to Southampton and Weymouth was severely disrupted for several days after the derailment of the Freightliner-operated train on a crossover at Eastleigh West Junction.
RAIB’s investigation discovered that fastenings holding the rails to the concrete sleepers were fractured below the surface, causing one of the rails to move outwards under the weight of the locomotive, derailing it and four loaded wagons.
RAIB discovered that the local track maintenance team had not identified any relevant faults prior to the derailment, as the failures were not apparent during visual inspections.