Commemorating a Major UK Rail Disaster

Survivors of one of the United Kingdom’s most severe rail accidents this century are scheduled to convene this evening to observe the 20th anniversary of the event that occurred at Ufton Nervet in Berkshire. At 6:12 PM on November 6, 2004, a high-speed Great Western train collided with a car positioned on a level crossing situated between Theale and Newbury. The vehicle had been deliberately placed on the train’s path by a local chef with the intention of ending his own life. However, the resulting devastating derailment also claimed the lives of six other individuals. More than 70 passengers were admitted to hospitals with serious injuries. A number of passengers were ejected from the train through broken windows. Passenger Jane Hawker recounted, “It was like being inside a tumble dryer,” adding, “I had no idea whether I would live or die.” She reflected, “With the perspective of 20 years, I can see how much it has influenced my life. I had a lot of counselling, a lot of therapy. I have successfully dealt with it.” The train struck the car at nearly 100mph. Subsequently, the car became lodged in a set of points located beyond the crossing. As the front section of the train derailed and decelerated, the rear section maintained its full speed, causing the train to jackknife in the middle. Among those who died were the train driver, Stan Martin, and passengers Anjanette Rossi and her nine-year-old daughter Louella, both from Newbury. Ellener Bromfield, Anjanette’s sister and Louella’s aunt, stated, “It was a very long night.” She continued, “The following morning, I was still phoning my sister’s mobile, because I didn’t want to believe it. She didn’t pick up.” Bromfield expressed her enduring pain: “It changes you. Because your life has changed. I want to tell them about my children’s children. I want to know how many children Louella should be having. So I get cross still.” Twelve years following the incident, the level crossing was permanently closed and replaced by an overpass. In the intervening years, four additional fatal incidents had occurred at the same automatic half-barrier crossing. Over 400 similar crossings remain operational. During the inquest, the coroner concluded that both the train and the level crossing were functioning correctly, and no railway personnel were found to be at fault. Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s safety and engineering director, commented, “Serious accidents at level crossings are extremely rare.” He added, “For many years now, we have been running a crossing closure programme with over 1,000 closed since Ufton Nervet.” According to the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), the number of fatalities at level crossings has decreased by two-thirds in the decades since the Ufton Nervet crash. On average, two individuals still die annually at level crossings. The specific model of train involved in the collision, which originated in the 1970s, has largely been retired from service, although a limited number are still in use. Mark Phillips, chief executive of RSSB, noted, “We have done a lot of work on the crashworthiness of train vehicles and on their interior design. Modern vehicles have better protection in terms of glass and shatter resistance.” He further stated, “There has been an improvement in the safety risk at level crossings, to the point where it is no longer one of the biggest risks that the industry is concerned about.” Ellener Bromfield, Jane Hawker, and Julie Lloyds are expected to join other affected families and survivors at a memorial garden adjacent to the crash site. Ellener, who will be accompanied by her father, remarked, “I can’t move on.” She elaborated, “It’s always there in the background; there are too many things I still want to tell my sister. I don’t like hearing a train. And I will never get on a train.” Jane has relocated from Newbury to Devon. She shared, “I didn’t go on trains at all until the level crossing at Ufton Nervet was replaced by a road bridge.” She added, “Before that, I couldn’t even stand on a station with a train going by.” Reflecting on the aftermath, she said, “Among the survivors there was a real community. It was so extreme, it was outside the experience of my existing circle of friends. We needed each other.” Julie, who survived the crash without physical injury but witnessed the suffering of many others, stated, “I can remember it as if it was yesterday, unfortunately.” She continued, “It took a long time to get over it, but it’s not something that rules my day any more.” Julie pondered, “A think a lot of lessons were learned. I still wonder whether enough have been learned.” She concluded, “Removing the level crossing made a lot of difference. I can relax when I go past here.” Adding, “To my mind, peace has returned to this area.”