Rail Accident Investigation Branch
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published its annual report covering the period 1 January to 31 December 2023. The report summarises operational and investigative activity undertaken by the Branch during the year.
The report also highlights six themes which have run through the Branchs work during 2023. These are: safety of trackworkers, the safety of people getting on and off trains, management of low adhesion, overspeeding, understanding the integrity of assets and corporate memory.
During 2023, 433 notifications were received by the RAIB, from which 51 events were identified as requiring a preliminary examination to determine the most appropriate response. From these preliminary examinations 13 investigations, 4 safety digests and 11 industry investigation reviews were started.
During 2023, RAIB published 14 full investigation reports, 6 safety digests, 7 letters to Coroners, one letter to industry and issued 2 notices of urgent safety advice. RAIB made 49 safety recommendations to 53 different organisations across the rail industry including infrastructure owners, train operators, manufacturers, and other authorities.
Notes to editors
1.The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2.RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.
3.For media enquiries, please call 01932 440015.