The Rail Safety and Standards Board can point to safety improvements in the national railways environment during 2005, but it says that challenges remain. Its Annual Safety Performance Report 2005 relates that:

there were no passenger or workforce fatalities in train accidents in 2005;
8 passengers died in accidents at stations, alcohol was a contributory factor in 5;
5 members of the workforce died in accidents in the trackside environment;
95% of fatalities to members of the public were suicide (or suspected suicide) and trespass;
of the 13 public fatalities not due to these causes, the majority occurred at level crossings;
at level crossings, there were 16 collisions between trains and road vehicles, 4 resulted in deaths of road vehicle occupants; potentially higher risk train accidents were down by 19%.
Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), together with industry initiatives, has brought about a reduction of more than 80% in the risk from signals passed at danger (SPADs) compared with 5 years ago, achieving the industry objective to reduce the risk from SPADs by 70% of the March 2001 baseline level, however trespass and the behaviour of road users at level crossings remains a significant issue for the industry.

Accident at Elsenham, December 2005
RSSB has published the report of the rail industry inquiry into the accident at Elsenham on 3rd December 2005, which claimed the lives of 2 teenage girls. The immediate cause of the accident was deemed to be a failure by the girls to respond to visual and audible warnings not to open the wicket gate and then use the station footpath crossing. While attempting to cross the line to catch a train on the far platform they stepped into the path of a moving train. The report carries 9 recommendations for improvements in a number of key areas outlined in the report for the industry to consider.

Comment:
‘2005 has seen continued safety improvements in a number of areas which reflects the industry’s continued efforts but there is no room for complacency.’ - RSSB’s Director, Policy and Strategic Initiatives.