The aim of this Steering Board was to present the latest developments in accidents (collisions) involving individuals on the French railway network between 2011 and 2012, and more specifically to analyse the time it takes to handle these incidents which involve a large number of people both within and outside the railways: first responders, police/judicial investigators, undertakers, etc.
Significant resources have been deployed by the Railway Traffic Department to improve the way in which these accidents are handled (an average time of 2 hours 20 minutes in 2012), in particular:
- Drafting an “Intervention guide: railway situations” for the French railway network, in partnership with railway companies and government departments
- Training, an information day and drills
- Signing agreements with various stakeholders at zonal and regional level: public prosecutors, gendarmerie (local police), etc.
- Systematic reporting to public prosecutors and prefects following an accident
- etc.
To promote the railways’ interests, it is crucial to communicate the operational constraints involved in order for all stakeholders to implement the necessary measures at their respective levels to safely restore traffic flow as quickly as possible, within the bounds of the existing legal framework.
In this context, Marie-Hélène Bonneau (UIC Security Division) presented the work undertaken as part of the European RESTRAIL project which aims to produce a toolbox providing measures, recommendations and best practice to reduce the number of suicide and trespass incidents and their consequences.
A public conference will be organised on 12 June 2013 in Paris at UIC headquarters to give a comprehensive overview of the RESTRAIL results. The advisory board and all interested rail companies will be welcome to this mid-term event and will be invited to give their feedback and to exchange their best practice to reduce the number of trespass and suicide incidents and to mitigate their consequences.
Please visit the website: www.restrail.eu
