Derailment Princes Street

Anyone here live in edinbrugh and could give us more details?

Investigation into the derailment of an empty passenger train near Edinburgh Waverley

At 17:51 hrs on 27 July the 17:10 hrs train from Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh Waverley, formed of a 3-car class 170 diesel multiple unit, was passing over the junctions in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, at about 19 mph (30.5 km/h), when all wheels of the leading bogie of the last vehicle became derailed to the left at facing points 167B. These points were set for the train to take the right-hand route, from the up north line (line Z) towards platform 15 at Waverley station. The train, which was crewed by a driver and a conductor, ran for about 90 metres before coming to a stop, and the derailed bogie caused damage to the track. There was also some damage to the underside of the train. No-one was hurt.

The RAIB’s preliminary examination has found that the derailment occurred because the flanges of the wheels climbed over the left-hand switch rail of points 167B, which was heavily worn. Network Rail has examined the other switch rails in the Princes Street Gardens area, and has not found any others in a similar condition.

The driving of the train and the operation of the signalling system played no part in the causes of the accident.

The investigation will include an examination of the condition of the train and the track to establish the mechanism of the derailment. It will review the history of the points concerned and work that was carried out on them in the days before the accident, the competence and fitness of the maintenance staff, and the organisation and resourcing of infrastructure maintenance in the Edinburgh area.