Safety Advice – NRA19-10 – OTP Travelling Speed and uni directional OTP assets

Safety Advice - NRA19-10 - OTP Travelling Speed and uni directional OTP assets

Following investigations into incidents at Watford Junction, Calverley and Tulloch, which involved items of OTP striking other OTP, the underlying causes were identified as incorrect control of OTP movements, excessive travelling speed and poor line of sight when travelling in reverse.

Network Rail, RAIB and the ORR have been investigating, and a number of local actions and formal recommendations have been issued.

Calverley was an incident involving a Ballast Distributing unit and a demountable machine (Kubota RTV900), where a member of staff received life changing injuries.

Tulloch involved a high-speed collision between a demountable machine (Rail Rover) and an excavator crane at Road Rail Access Point(RRAP)with staff receiving minor injuries.

Watford Junction involved two items of OTP working in close proximity that resulted in an RRV excavator reversing into the ballast box of the other machine.