Accidents British Railways

A study of the development of the British railway network from the 1830s shows how railway engineers and their regulators grasped the concept of Safety Audit as the key to a safe transport system. In the early days of this form of mass transportation, accidents were common as the pioneers came to grips with the demands of moving people and goods, at previously unknown speeds, around the country. 

Rose, C. F. 1983. Railway accident Report on the collision that occurred on December 11,1981, near Seer Green in the London Midland Region of British Railways. London Her Majesty s Stationery Office. 

This accident accelerated the development and implementation by British Rail of its Total Quality Management Initiative with associated internal and external auditing. The Railway Inspectorate s remit in monitoring safety of the railways was extended and transferred from the Department of Transport to the Health and Safety Executive in order to improve its degree of independence. This accident was instrunoental in the establishment of a requirement for railway Safety Cases. 

---