A train collided with the buffers at London Bridge station after the driver fell asleep at the controls, an investigation has concluded.
The incident took place at 3.45pm on 13 December last year at one of the UK’s busiest stations. The train was arriving at platform 12 when it struck the buffers at low speed.
According to a report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, the Southern Railway driver, who was not named, “experienced a microsleep due to fatigue”. Investigators found he had slept less than usual the night before because of childcare arrangements.
The RAIB said the driver normally stayed in bed until 9am before starting early afternoon shifts. On the day of the incident, he woke at 7.30am due to “unexpected changes in childcare arrangements at home”.
The report also highlighted a demanding work pattern. In the 22 days before the London Bridge train buffers incident, the driver was scheduled to have 12 rest days but worked on nine of them. Investigators said this increased the risk of fatigue.
Onboard data showed the train entered the platform at 13.3mph and gradually slowed. It was travelling at 2.3mph when it hit the buffers.
The driver applied the emergency brake when the train was three-and-a-half metres from the buffers, but the distance was too short to prevent a collision. There was minor damage to the train and railway infrastructure, and no injuries were reported.
The RAIB noted that the driver recalled feeling tired earlier in the journey. When the train stopped at Crystal Palace station 26 minutes before the incident, he began to “feel tried” and recognised “the need to focus and remain alert”.
The report added: “Although aware that they were feeling tired, the driver felt able to continue the journey.”
Investigators said none of the safety protection systems on the train intervened, as it was travelling below the minimum speed at which they operate. Other systems were also unable to detect the “short loss of driver alertness that occurred”.
The report said many train operators rely on drivers volunteering for paid additional shifts to operate timetabled services, a practice which can contribute to fatigue.
As a result of the London Bridge train buffers incident, the RAIB recommended that Southern Railways’ parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, improve its fatigue management process.
GTR safety, health and security director Samantha Facey said: “Safety is always our number one priority and we’re determined to learn from every incident to improve our safety standard for our people and our customers.
“We’re committed to making sure our staff are fit and alert when they’re at work.
“In August, we updated and improved our fatigue risk management standard to help us manage fatigue more effectively, which includes reports from staff related to tiredness.
“We’ve also set up stronger working groups with staff representatives, and we’re now using robust scientific modelling to plan staff shifts so we can spot and prevent fatigue before it becomes a risk.
“All of this is part of our ongoing efforts to meet the recommendations in the RAIB report and to keep our passengers and staff safe.”
