At about 14:49 hrs on Thursday 21 April 2022, a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured by an out-of-service passenger train at Lady Howard footpath and bridleway crossing, near Ashtead in Surrey. The pedestrian, who was walking on the crossing with a dog and pushing a wheeled trolley bag, started to cross the railway tracks shortly after a train had passed. She was struck by a second train, which was travelling in the opposite direction to the first.
The driver of the train involved in the accident sounded the train's horn on seeing the pedestrian on the crossing. The pedestrian responded by hurrying forwards towards the exit of the crossing but was unable to get clear of the path of the train in time to avoid being struck.
RAIB published its report into this accident on 14 February 2023 (RAIB report 01/2023). Since RAIB's report was published, new evidence has been made available to the branch concerning the accident. The Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents has concluded that this new evidence may be significant and that RAIB's investigation into the accident should therefore be reopened under the provisions of section 7(8) of The Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
The reopened investigation is independent of any investigation by the rail industry or by the industry's regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.
We will publish any revised findings, including any new or revised recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of the reopened investigation. This report will be available on our website.
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