Poor flood risk management was to blame for the derailment of a train, a rail accident report has said.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published a report into an incident in January 2022 when a train from Norwich to Lowestoft ran onto a washed-out section of track between Reedham and Haddiscoe stations.

The train, which was crewed by a driver and a guard, was carrying five passengers and no one was hurt in the derailment.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The report found the Environment Agency and Network Rail were working inadequately in their management of the railway The report found the Environment Agency and Network Rail were working inadequately in their management of the railway (Image: Copyright Protected: Rob Colman 2022. No Syndication.)

 

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The tidal surges had damaged the railwayThe tidal surges had damaged the railway (Image: Network Rail)

The RAIB report said: "The train involved was not prevented from entering the flooded section of track because Network Rail was not aware that water was entering the railway at this location.

"RAIB also found that Network Rail’s flood risk management processes were not effective at warning that the track at Haddiscoe was at serious risk of flooding.

"Underlying factors were that the Environment Agency’s management of flooding risk in the area did not account for, and was not required to account for, the impact of localised flooding on the railway, and that Network Rail was not effectively managing the risks to its assets and services associated with third party flood defences.

"A possible underlying factor was that no joint strategy was in place to protect the railway from flooding at this location due to the Environment Agency and Network Rail not effectively collaborating."

The RAIB's investigation acknowledged that there were "unusually high water levels" on the day due to a tidal surge.

READ MORE: AAIB report says age 'could have been' factor after fatal plane crash

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The report found that the Environment Agency and Network Rail were not effectively collaboratingThe report found that the Environment Agency and Network Rail were not effectively collaborating (Image: Copyright Protected: Rob Colman 2022. No Syndication.)

READ MORE: Passengers evacuated from Greater Anglia train after track flooded

As a result of the investigation the RAIB has made a series of recommendations, including that the Environment Agency and Network Rail aim to ensure that railway‑related flood risk is managed appropriately alongside Haddiscoe Cut.

Network Rail was also recommended to integrate flood risk into its weather management strategies.

Another recommendation was to improve interaction between Network Rail and those organisations responsible for tidal flood defences in England and Wales.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: An aerial photograph showing the train stuck on the track where it derailed at HaddiscoeAn aerial photograph showing the train stuck on the track where it derailed at Haddiscoe (Image: Luke Martin)

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Drone images capture the extent of the damage after the train was stopped near Haddiscoe. Drone images capture the extent of the damage after the train was stopped near Haddiscoe. (Image: Mike Page)