Regulator publishes key safety data statistics for 2013-14

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today published the annual statistical release presenting trends in rail safety in Great Britain from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.

The data shows that during 2013-14:

• There were 345 fatalities on the mainline network, London Underground and other networks such as tramways and heritage railways, an increase of 19 compared with 2012-13. Of these fatalities, 304 were recorded as suicide.
• The number of passenger injuries on the mainline, London Underground and other networks rose to 11,047, an increase of 0.9% compared with the previous year. Slips, trips and falls – often a result of congestion or bad weather – accounted for the highest proportion of injuries on both the mainline network and London Underground. This category has accounted for the highest proportion of passenger injuries in every year of the time series. 
• The number of workforce injuries on the mainline network increased by 206 (3.5%). Workforce injuries on the London Underground network rose by 302 (8.3%) and other networks by 34 (16.9%).

ORR’s Director of railway safety, Ian Prosser, said:

“Managing safety on the rail network presents a major challenge to the industry as it faces pressures from rising numbers of passengers and trains. This is why there is no room for complacency and ORR is focusing attention on safety at stations and at track and rail constructions sites. The regulator wants to see improvements in safety culture with strong leadership across the rail sector.”

ORR’s Director of railway safety, Ian Prosser will be hosting a Twitter Q&A on safety challenges facing Britain’s railways on Thursday, 2 October from 1:30-2:30pm. Follow @railregulation on Twitter for the latest updates, news and data from the regulator and join the discussion on rail data trends using #openrail.