The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into the dispatch of a train with an unsecured load from Basford Hall Yard, Crewe, on 21 February 2006. The full report is available here:

A summary of the key points from the report is - On Tuesday 21 February 2006 a freight train travelling from Crewe to Toton, near Nottingham, contained 14 wagons which had unsecured loads of redundant track panels. Although the unsecured load remained in place throughout the journey, there was potential for it to move or be shed, which could have resulted in a serious incident.

The train was dispatched onto the mainline railway with an incorrect consist of wagons. There was a breakdown in communications between staff at the freight yard and the procedure for checking departing trains was not properly carried out.

Recommendations
The RAIB has made five recommendations aimed at:
• ensuring the quality and safety of shunting work,
• the control, issuing and briefing of methods of work at Basford Hall Yard and
• appropriate consideration of staff fatigue.