DLR operator fined £450,000 for failing to stop a train after a passenger fell onto the track

Serco Limited (Serco) the operator of the Docklands Light Railway were today fined £450,000 and ordered to pay £43,773 costs, following a prosecution for a serious health and safety offence brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

The incident resulted in the death of a member of the public, Robert Carter, who fell onto the track and was struck by a train. Today’s sentencing follows a guilty verdict at Southwark Crown Court on 30 April 2010.

The ORR prosecution followed an incident on 2 April 2007 at All Saints DLR station. During an altercation between Mr Carter and another person, Mr Carter was pushed and fell onto the track. A short time later he was struck by a train and fatally injured.

ORR investigated and found that Serco had an inadequate procedure in place for stopping trains in an emergency. The company allowed control room staff to decide whether to stop trains based partly on CCTV images. The CCTV system was not designed or intended for this purpose.

ORR director of railway safety Ian Prosser said: “I would like to extend my sympathies to Mr Carter’s family.

“ORR welcomes the verdict and today’s sentence, but his death could have been avoided if proper procedures had been implemented.

“Most importantly, following ORR’s enforcement action SERCO has made changes to its procedures to ensure that such an incident should never happen again.

“Ultimately safety is about people, and although risk of an accident is as low as it has ever been – there is absolutely no room for complacency. ORR will not tolerate public safety being put at risk, and continues to press for improvements and takes enforcement action – including prosecution – when necessary.”

Mr Prosser will speak on Excellence in Health & Safety in Birmingham on Thursday 20th May. Tickets are £199, get them from here.