THE RAIL Accident Investigation Branch has released a report into the buffer stop collision at Enfield Town station almost two years ago.
The accident happened at 8.21am on October 12, 2021, as an Arriva Rail London service worked by London Overground Class 710 electric multiple unit 710124 hit the buffer stop at a speed of 7.7mph. The collision resulted in the train riding up onto the buffer stop, coming to a rest with its leading wheels about 800mm above the rails. Two of the 75 passengers on board sustained minor injuries.
The RAIB investigation found that the train had been travelling at a speed of 10mph when it was 69 metres away from the buffer stop. Despite briefly applying the brakes on the Class 710 EMU, the driver took no further control actions for just over seven seconds until making an emergency brake application just before the train hit the buffer stop.
The cause was due to the driver not applying the brakes in time to stop safely, the driver reporting afterwards that he had briefly fell asleep on approach to the buffer stop. No faults were found with the train itself.
The driver subsequently tested positive for cocaine during a post-incident urine test. The RAIB report states that the incident was caused by him being significantly fatigued, which affected his awareness, the presence of a recreational drug in his system, or a combination of the two.
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