Passenger safety

ORR brought industry together to discuss how to improve safety, welfare and the customer experience of passengers involved in stranded train incidents. This blog explains how industry can build on the progress already made.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) – the economic and safety regulator of Britain’s railway – has made several recommendations from its review of how the rail industry responded to the potential safety issues leading to the withdrawal of Hitachi Rail’s Class 800 series trains in May last year.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) today reports in its interim review that Hitachi’s Class 800 and 385 series trains were affected by stress corrosion and fatigue cracks. These resulted in a significant number of Class 800 trains being withdrawn from service in May.

The Office of Rail and Road is undertaking a review to understand the lessons the industry can learn from the discovery of cracks on Hitachi Class 800 and 385 series trains.

By Steve Turner, HM Principal Inspector.