Rail fault identified for derailed freight train at Hampshire station

On January 28, a freight train derailed as it came into Eastleigh station, damaging the line and leading to delays for the next week.

This has been attributed to a number of broken rail fastenings on the line.

Now, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched a full investigation after its preliminary findings.

In a statement, a spokesman said: ‘The RAIB’s preliminary examination found that a series of rail fastenings, intended to maintain the correct distance between the rails, had broken.

‘Initial evidence suggests that some of these were already broken before the derailment.

‘Consequently, as the freight train passed over the points, the rails moved apart and the train wheels dropped into the space between the rails.

The investigation will look at the design of the rail fastenings and the industry response.