Investigation into a serious injury to a train driver during a shunting operation at Carstairs station, South Lanarkshire, 28 April 2026.
At around 00:45 on 28 April 2026, a driver was seriously injured during a shunting operation at Carstairs station, South Lanarkshire.
The shunting operation involved two separate portions of the Caledonian Sleeper service. These were train 1C11, from Edinburgh, and train 1M11, from Glasgow. After the two portions had been coupled together, the locomotive from train 1C11 was detached, to allow the combined train to continue south to London Euston.
After the locomotive from train 1C11 had been detached, its driver and a driver assessor positioned themselves on the track, near to the locomotive, in order to carry out some training with its coupling equipment. As they were doing so, train 1M11 moved towards them.
The train driver saw the approaching train very shortly before it reached them and warned the driver assessor. Both attempted to move clear, but the train driver sustained serious injuries after their hand became trapped between the train and the locomotive. The driver assessor was unhurt but only narrowly avoided being trapped.
Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events which led to the accident. It will also consider:
- the actions of those involved and the factors that may have influenced them
- the planning and control of the shunting operation
- the arrangements in place for staff working on or near the track during shunting and coupling activities
- how the risks associated with coupling operations were being managed
- any underlying management factors.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry's regulator, the Office of Rail and Road .
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.
