LIVE: Investigation into operational issue involving trains on Tipperary/Laois border

The Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) has completed its investigation into an operational irregularity involving two trains between Lisduff and Ballybrophy on March 28, 2024.

According to the report, the incident involved Train A214, the 13:00 service from Dublin Heuston to Cork, and Train A215, the 12:25 service from Cork to Dublin.

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The RAIU said that at approximately 14:00, “Train A214, travelling on the Down line, activated a Hot Axle Box Detector (HABD) alarm and was instructed by Mainline CTC to stop for inspection.” The driver requested signal protection on both lines so the train could be examined safely, but this could not be granted immediately because Train A215 was approaching on the Up line.

Lisduff and Ballybrophy are closely linked locations in county Laois, primarily recognised for their significance to the railway network.

Ballybrophy Railway Station acts as a key interchange between Dublin-Cork and the Nenagh branch, while the nearby Lisduff loop is used for train run-arounds and engineering, often serving as a passing point.

The report states that “during a follow-up call at approximately 14:04 hrs, a misunderstanding occurred regarding whether Train A215 had passed the location of Train A214.”

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Based on this misunderstanding, signal protection was granted while Train A215 was still approaching within the same signal section.

At 14:06, the situation escalated when “Driver A214 placed a Track Circuit Operating Device (T-COD) on the Up line; this caused Train A215 (on the Up line) to receive an abnormal CAWS downgrade, resulting in the driver (Driver A215) braking and bringing the train to a stop.”

When the driver of Train A215 contacted Centralised Traffic Control (CTC), it became clear that the train had not yet passed Train A214 and was still in the same section where protection had been granted. Train A215 was then instructed not to move.

The investigation concluded that the incident occurred because signal protection was granted without correctly confirming the location of Train A215.

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Contributing factors included poor safety-critical communications, misinterpretation of signalling instructions relating to signal protection, distraction due to a concurrent signalling fault at Portlaoise, and limitations in the CTC workstation display that caused confusion about which signal aspect was being referenced.

Following the investigation, the RAIU issued four safety recommendations. These include reviewing and strengthening safety-critical communication training and responsibilities, clarifying signalling instructions relating to signal protection, conducting a risk assessment of double-manned signalling workstations, and enhancing training on the CTC system’s holding track feature.