Clapham Junction rail tragedy which killed 35 people remembered on 35th anniversary
The 35th anniversary of the Clapham Junction rail tragedy which killed 35 people has been remembered today.
On December 12, 1988, at 8.10am, faulty wiring in the signalling system caused three trains carrying about 1,300 passengers inside to collide on the approach to Clapham Junction station.
About 500 people were injured in the crash and 35 people lost their lives.
According to reports following the incident, a crowded commuter train hit the rear of another train which was standing stationary just south of Clapham Junction station.
The impact on the stationary carriages shunted it to the right, where it struck a third oncoming train.
The now retired former London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Dany Cotton, was new to the Brigade when she was called to attend the crash.
“I was 19 and just three months out of training school,” she said. “We were on duty over Sunday night and were called to the scene on Monday morning.
“Our first job was getting casualties out of the trains and into the ambulances.
“It was just before Christmas and there were a lot of Christmas cards strewn everywhere. People must have been writing their cards on the train. It was an incredibly sad scene.”
The number of casualties meant that eight ambulances and a surgical unit were needed. Those passengers with the most severe injuries had to be operated on at the scene.
Today, relatives who lost loved ones in the Clapham rail crash joined those from across the rail industry for a memorial event at the Spencer Park memorial site in Wandsworth, next to the railway track leading to Clapham Junction station.
Andy Lewis, deputy chief inspector at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), said: “The Clapham accident was a tragedy. Events like today’s help us remember the dreadful impact of this accident and those lost, but also the considerable amount of safety learning and change that came as a result.”
Other events that are taking place to mark the 35th anniversary include a “lessons learnt” talk, hosted by Network Rail and Siemens Mobility, where colleagues will be sharing technical briefings and interactive sessions at Network Rail’s Wessex Delivery Unit in Clapham.
A discussion on why the Clapham rail crash had such a big impact on the industry, how it happened, what the key learning was and what is being done to prevent incidents like this happening in future will take place.
Claire Mann, South Western Railway’s managing director, said: “We’re very grateful to our colleagues for organising today’s commemoration and to those from the wider railway family who came together in remembrance.
“Today is a day to remember the 35 people who tragically lost their lives, to think about their families, and to recognise the efforts of all those who played a part in the rescue and recovery operation on Monday 12 December 1988.”
Pictured top: Emergency services attend the Clapham Junction rail crash in December 1988 (Picture: PA)