Historic Railway Disasters
UK: 20 mph speed limit ordered for Severn Tunnel trains
:Thursday, April 29, 1999Trains travelling through the Severn Tunnel must reduce their speed to 20 mph because of the poor condition of the track.Trains are normally permitted to travel at 70 mph.
Railtrack has been served with a Prohibition Notice by Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) because of serious concerns that trains could be derailed in the tunnel. This follows 4 incidents recently where broken rails have been found. The track is said to be rusting badly due to the damp conditions.
The 4 mile long tunnel, built by Brunel in the 19th Century carries the main line between England and Wales under the Severn Estuary. It is currently undergoing a multi-million pound maintenance programme.
The tunnel was the scene of a collision between 2 trains on 7 December 1991 injuring 185 people.
Source: BBC
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BBC Online 29 Apr 99
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Copyright © David Fry 1999