Rail Accident Investigation Branch
At around 10:52 hrs on 7 April 2016, a wheelchair occupied by a teenaged girl, moved towards the edge of platform 4 of Twyford station and into multiple glancing contacts with wagons of a passing freight train. The last contact pushed the wheelchair clear of the platform edge. The girl suffered a minor injury to her foot.
Prior to the accident, the wheelchair was stationary, behind the yellow line painted on the platform and facing parallel to the tracks. It was positioned next to the girls mother, who has stated that she had applied the brakes on the wheelchair.
Our investigation will:
- identify the sequence of events which led to the accident
- consider how the wheelchair moved into contact with the train, including any effects of wind turbulence generated by the passage of the train
- consider previous research of such aerodynamic issues
- consider any relevant underlying factors.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or the Office of Road and Rail (ORR).
We will publish our findings, including any safety recommendations at the conclusion of our investigation; these will be available on our website.
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