According to the rail safety authority, a train collided with a buffer stop at London Bridge station due to the driver experiencing a microsleep attributed to exhaustion.

The incident occurred at approximately 15:45 GMT on December 13, 2024, when a Southern service impacted the buffer on platform 12, even after the emergency brakes had been engaged, as identified in a report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The report indicated that the driver had inadequate sleep the previous night, and their work schedule “was structured in a way that heightened the risk of fatigue.” Prior to the incident, the driver had worked several of their scheduled rest days.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has been contacted for a response.

Additionally, the investigation revealed that the onboard safety systems did not activate to avert the collision because the train was moving too slowly for them to respond.

One contributing factor identified was that GTR’s approach to managing fatigue risk “was not adequately effective and lacked adherence to certain best practices within the industry,” as noted by the inspectors.

Furthermore, the report highlighted “the absence of safety systems on mainline trains capable of detecting and addressing brief lapses in driver alertness.”

The RAIB has urged GTR to enhance its fatigue risk management protocols and align more closely with established industry practices.

Moreover, the Rail Safety and Standards Board has been encouraged “to offer guidance on seeking external expertise regarding medical issues and working hours that may elevate fatigue risk among safety-sensitive personnel.”