Distracted driver
A Freightliner driver who was in charge of a test run was distracted by the need to deal with a fault on the locomotive and ran past a red signal, according to a report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. The incident was near Stafford on 22 August last year. No one was injured and the locomotive was not derailed, although some points were damaged. The RAIB found the locomotive had been travelling too quickly as it approached the signal, which was protecting a junction. No other trains were directly involved, although another was approaching. The RAIB said Freightliner had no formal process for managing the risks of test runs and light locomotives, and that its competence management system had not equipped the driver to deal with an unexpected and potentially distracting situation. It has made two recommendations.

Railway recruitment
Southeastern has launched its biggest ever recruitment drive to encourage more people to choose a career on the railways. The operator, which was nationalised in 2021, says it wants to ‘break the outdated perception of what working in rail is like’. Southeastern wants to attract 170 trainee drivers and more than 100 station staff. It is also seeking staff for enforcement and protection, on board managers, train conductors and engineers. The operator has launched an advertising campaign which aims to encourage people from communities who may not have previously considered a career in rail.

Accessible Anniesland
Network Rail engineers worked through Saturday night to install steel structures at Anniesland station which will contain new lifts. The lift towers are 12 metres tall, with steel walkways connecting the upper towers to the existing platforms. The footpath underneath the railway bridge, parking bays, and the inside eastbound lane of nearby Great Western Road will remain closed for the duration of the project, which will be completed later this year.