The 1995 Ais Gill rail accident occurred near Aisgill, Cumbria, UK, at about 18:55 on 31 January 1995, when a class 156 Super-Sprinter was derailed by a landslide on the Settle-Carlisle Railway line, and was subsequently ran into by a similar train travelling in the opposite direction.
[1] The excessive rainfall, on top of snow on the ground increased landslide risk and rendered the Stainforth Tunnel impassable late on 31 January, closing the line from Ribblehead to Settle.
The driver changed cabs as the train was now heading northbound instead of southbound, and proceeded back over the Ribblehead Viaduct, and on to Aisgill Summit, the highest point on the line at 1,169 feet (356 m) above sea level.
No steps were taken by the guard to protect the train, as required by the Railtrack Rule Book, walking 1.25 miles (2.01 km) and placing three detonators and displaying a red handlamp.
[6] Meanwhile, another Super-Sprinter train forming the 1745 Carlisle to Leeds service (headcode 2H92) had set off from Kirkby Stephen railway station around 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north.
The location was extremely difficult for emergency services to reach, and a rescue train was sent from Carlisle that arrived at 21:45, departed at 22:30 with the passengers and staff that needed evacuated.
Over and Out.The official inquiry concluded that the conductor of 2H88 failed in his paramount duty to protect his train in the event of an incident by laying down detonators and displaying a red flag one mile from the obstruction.
[12][11] Further recommendations were made concerning the inadequate communications between Railtrack Control Rooms and inefficient use of the National Radio Network.
[13] On 15 January 1999, a similar incident occurred around 10 miles (16 km) from the site of the 1995 accident, at Crosby Garrett Tunnel, north of Kirkby Stephen.
[10] He had made it only 300 yards (270 m) when he heard an approaching train and managed to place a single detonator, and waved a red signal lamp.